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Vine |
Madiran vineyard date back to the 1rst century BC. Mosaics discovered in Taron confirm its presence in the 2nd year BC. In the 12th century, Benedictines of the Abbey of Marcillac in the region of Lot, came to create the Abbey of Madiran and they improved the vineyard. Wines of Madiran, for a long time used like sacramental wine, were famous thanks to pilgrims who tasted it as they passed by.
“Madiranais” is a hillside vineyard, stradding the following departments : Pyrénées Atlantiques, Hautes Pyrénées and Gers.
In the same production area as Madiran, another wine (white wine) of quality is produced : the Pacherenc of Vic-Bilh.
Madiran and Pacherenc of Vic-Bilh areproduced in the same production area, the first : red ; the others : white. The area of the vineyard represents about 1600 hectares, of which 1400 that produce Madiran. The production is 65000 hectolitre for Madiran and 9000 hectolitre for Pacherenc of Vic-Bilh.
Four types of vine compose the wine of Madiran : Tannat is the main type of vine, Cabernet francs, Sauvignon and Fer Servadou are the complementary types of vine. Pacherenc of Vic-Bilh, dry wine or …… are produced from Petit Manseng and Petit Courbu (main types of vine), completed by Arrufiac (autochthonous type of vine), the Gros Manseng and Sauvignon.
The wine of Madiran became AOC (AOC is the highest French wine classification. It indicates that the wine meets strict requirements concerning the vineyard of origin, the type of vine grown, the method of production, and the volume of alcohol present.) in 1948 and was the first appellation in France to put itself under a control of quality with the issue of a label following analysis and tasting.
The Departemental Map of vineyards : Madiran, Jurançon, Irrouléguy is available at the tourist office in Lembeye |
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The Compact Disc of the "Chanteurs Vignerons / vintners singers" (15€) is available at the tourist office in Lembeye |
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