Winning! The Wines of Southwest France

In November 2017, the Wines of Southwest France won the prestigious Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award “Wine Region of the Year”. Winemakers, winery owners, export managers, and everyone in between continue their euphoria. To be internationally recognized as a region committed to producing wines of quality, paying homage to their heritage, and embracing change is clearly a source of satisfaction.

No one exudes more pride for this achievement than Andre Compeyre, Brand Ambassador (and lead sommelier and manager at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York City). I had the opportunity to sit down with Andre for a chat and a taste of four wines comprised of indigenous grapes from the region prior to the recent Wines of Southwest France trade event at City Winery in Chicago.

Originally from Toulouse, Andre discovered wine “like a dream” during a stint as a trained chef… and the rest is history. From his sommelier studies to his first “field trip” to Fronton to an internship in various vineyards of Southwest France to a year in Gaillac, Andre Compeyre is just as excited about the region as he ever was. In essence, his role as Brand Ambassador is to “spread the word”. He readily admitted that he “can’t fake the passion and enthusiasm” for these wines.

The lush rolling hills of this beautiful area stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to Toulouse and from the Pyrenees to the vast mountains of the Massif Central. In general, the region is in the southwest corner of France, although it excludes their high-profile neighbors, Bordeaux and Cognac. Reflecting the area’s diverse climate and terroir are its wines. Over 300 grape varieties (120 are indigenous to the region) cultivated in 43 geographical designations satisfy any winelover’s palate. If you haven’t found a favorite wine from Southwest France yet, though, keep pouring. The region is the fourth largest in production volume in the country. And the prices? They’re incredibly budget-friendly. Click here for more.

During our tasting and lively conversation about the distinctive wines of Southwest France, I understood more clearly that diversity, quality, and affordability are key takeaways.

As we sipped a lovely Domaine du Moulin, Méthode Ancestrale 2017, a sparkling wine of Mauzac from Gaillac, Andre shared that the wines of Southwest France are “great examples of value wines, not cheap wines”. He’s “excited about discovering something new” and with hundreds of grape varieties, the diversity and exploration of these wines are endless. This elegant wine from Domaine du Moulin offered notes of green apples on the nose and palate and a brilliant, refreshing start to the day.

Our next pour was of Tariquet Classic 2017 from Côtes de Gascogne, a region known for its expressive, fruit forward wines (along with its music festivals). Andre explained that those at Domaine du Tariquet, a cooperative, are successful in “motivating different growers to pay close attention to the quality of their parcels and their grapes”. Their efforts show. A blend of Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Sauvignon, and Gros Manseng, this crisp, dry wine is currently priced at only $10-$12 per bottle; Andre suggested that it’s a delicious alternative to Pinot Grigio. I found refreshing notes of florals, apricots, and green apple nicely balanced with mouthwatering acidity and a bit of salt on the finish.

Ahhhh, the Château Coutinel, On l’appelle négrette, 2017 from Fronton. This dark red grape, the main variety in Fronton and the first time I had the pleasure to taste, offered notes of rich red fruit, licorice, and pepper with a hint of spice. This wine was unfined, unfiltered, and unoaked; along with the traditional palate profile, I discovered elements of violets and a pleasing cost of $14. Just delicious…

Our final taste was of Château Bouscassé 2012, a rich, bold wine of Tannat, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Côtes de Gascogne, priced at a mere $18. Perfect to pair with a barbeque of mixed grill, rabbit, quail, and, according to Andre, chocolate, I found this wine one that everyone should explore, especially if Tannat has never been in your glass.

As our time together ended, members of the wine trade and media entered City Winery where hundreds of bottles of wine from Southwest France were ready to be poured. I was more than excited to share Andre Compeyre’s exuberance about the region with my colleagues and taste more exceptional offerings. I did.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

NOTE: For more about the unique wines of Southwest France, click here.