The region - ARMAGNAC - vineyards of the South-West
Armagnac lies in a vast area described as the Southwest, or Sud-Quest, wine region which is a
collection of over 10 wine regions that stretch from central France all the way to the Spanish
border.
Situated betweeen the Atlantic and the Pyrénées it enjoys a generous amount of sunshine
through the winter, rainfall in the spring which nourishes the vineyards,
a warm summer and sublime weather stretching through the vendange
well into November. It is a compact area is roughly 80 kms long by
80 kms wide and comprising of 15,000 hectares with numerous scattered villages.
Gascony and the Armagnac wine region is one of the most unspoilt and beautiful regions of
France, an area famed for its gastronomy, its delicious Armagnac and its mouthfilling country wines.
This, combined with the warmth of the southern sunshine and Atlantic freshness.
The countryside with its rolling hills topped with the `Bastide' towns and villages, through
vineyards, fields of sweetcorn and sunflowers to the heart of the Armagnac countryside in the west
and beyond to the sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast, to the foothills of the Pyrenees
and ski stations in the south and onward to Spain. The scenery is more that of rolling hills and glacier formed flat valleys. Yet there are views
of the Pyrenees from the southern hills. The towns and villages of Gascony tend to be small and
far apart and the local economy is mainly agricultural - cereals, cattle, and of course, ducks
and geese for the famous Gascony preserves, pâtés and particularly foie gras.
ARMAGNAC - the Brandy
Armagnac claims a longer history than Cognac, probably produced by the Moors in the 12th
century, and certainly from the 15th century onwards. Isolated from efficient transport links,
it remained very much a locally consumed product until the middle of the 18th century.
Production contrasts significantly with the much more industrial methods employed in Cognac.
There remains a mood of experimentation in Armagnac: they freely use more fragrant grape
varieties, along with a variety of distillation methods. It is slightly more rustic in style
than Cognac, softer and rounder, with a fuller flavour on both nose and palate.
Armagnacs have extraordinary intensity and finesse, allied with the capacity of
ageing effortlessly for up to a century, and sometimes even longer.
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