Vineyards, Grape Varieties and Winegrowers
white wines of Vic-Bilh so appreciated in the 19the In the 19th century, wines produced by Belgian and Dutch amateurs were mainly made using trellises. The vines were then trained on very tall supports which protected the grapes from frosts and harmful fogs.
Sometimes the support was also replaced by a rowan tree, a type of sorb tree with small, sour, red fruits.
The outspokenness of the Friends of Agriculture, 1932
The Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh Vineyard
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh is produced on the northern foothills of the Pyrenees. The vineyards stretch across a series of hillsides shaped by the valleys of the Adour and the Lées, around thirty kilometres north-east of Pau. The appellation area is the same as that of the Madiran vineyard. It benefits from a temperate oceanic climate, moderated by Atlantic influence and protected to the south by the Pyrenees range. The soils of Vic-Bilh alternate between clay-limestone formations, clay-siliceous layers and tawny sands.
Climate and terroir combine to create favourable conditions for the slow and steady ripening of exclusively white grape varieties. The vines occupy well-drained slopes, exposed to sunlight that encourages the aromatic ripening of the grapes. The grape varieties planted are largely dominated by indigenous grape varieties. The fruit is carefully monitored and yields are regulated over several months, which can sometimes lead to very late harvests.
A vineyard planted with white grape varieties
In Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh, the vineyard is planted around a core of native grape varieties of Southwest France. Foremost among these are Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, Courbu and Petit Courbu. These principal grape varieties have the ability to accumulate sugars while retaining a lively acidity. This natural freshness underpins the balance of dry, medium-sweet and sweet white wines. Other varieties, such as Arrufiac or Sauvignon, may also contribute in smaller proportions, refining the aromatic profile and structure of the blends.
Petit Manseng brings concentration and aromatic intensity, while offering remarkable breadth, making it particularly well suited to late harvests. Gros Manseng contributes freshness and tension to the wines. Courbu and Petit Courbu enhance structure, finesse and floral complexity. The blending of these grape varieties, each with a strong local identity, plays a central role in the typicity of the Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh white wines. Their juices, carefully assembled by the winegrowers, give rise to a range of wines that extends from crisp, expressive dry whites to great sweet wines built for ageing, emblematic treasures of these Pyrenean foothills.
The white wines of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh
The wines of the Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellation are exclusively dry, medium-sweet or sweet white wines. Harvest dates and levels of ripeness determine the future profile of each style. Dry white wines are characterised by a pale golden colour, with aromas of white flowers, citrus and white-fleshed fruit, supported by a structuring freshness. At the table, these wines stand out for their tension and breadth on the palate, pairing beautifully with grilled fish, seafood, tapas from Southwest France or pressed cheeses.
Sweet and dessert wines are made from overripe grapes, with the latest harvests sometimes extending into December. They are distinguished by golden to amber hues and by an intense aromatic profile of exotic fruits, apricot, honey and sweet spices. Their natural freshness balances the sugar content and gives them excellent ageing potential, during which a complex evolution gradually develops, revealing seductive candied notes. These wines from the Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh appellation pair beautifully with foie gras, white meats in cream sauces, blue cheeses or desserts based on yellow fruits, offering food and wine pairings of great gastronomic precision.
Meetings with Pacherenc-du-Vic-Bilh Winegrowers
Plaimont: wine tourism destination
Château Bouscassé and Château Montus
Domaine Laougué – Madiran & Pacherenc
Château Laffitte Teston – Madiran
Laplace family
