Jurançon AOC

The vineyards Jurançon located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the southwest of Wine Country Sud -Ouest. The 1,000 hectares approved vineyards spread over the municipalities Jurançon, subscriptions, Arbus, Artiguelouve, Aubertin, Bosdarros, Cardesse, Cuqueron, Estialesq, Gan, Gelos, Haut-de- Bosdarros, Lacommande, Lahourcade, Laroin, Lasseube, Lasseubetat, Lucq- de -Béarn, Mazères- Lezon, Monein, Narcastet, Parbayse, Rontignon, Saint- Faust and Uzos in the department of Pyrénées -Atlantiques and located at an altitude between 250 and 450 m above sea level. NN. Since December 8, 1936, the appellation has the status of a Appellation d' Origine ( AOC short ) and is partly congruent with the appellation Béarn. With the introduction of the label AOC selection was very strict, as of 3800 acres of existing vineyard is 400 acres of this appellation have been found to be good.

History of wine in Jurançon

Probably started as early as 2000 years ago in the region with the wine. Roman mosaics from Roman times that were found in the vicinity of the area, leave at least to this conclusion. Written in 1117, the area is, however, only mentioned under the name " juransoo "; this in the other 180 years before the founding of the church Jurançon.

As of 1382, the province of Béarn is located in the territory of the Kings of Navarre. In the 16th century the vineyards of this region were defined as special vineyards ( crus ) by decision of the Parliament of Navarre. At the same time was also prohibited to import foreign wines. One can understand this as one of the first attempts at classification or protected designation of origin in Europe. The Duke of Vendôme, Anton of Bourbon wetted at the baptism of his son and later King Henry IV (France) whose lips with wine from Jurançon and rubbed it with a garlic clove to strengthen the newborn. The Taufpraktik that baptême the name béarnais bears, was retained in the French royal house later.

The excellent reputation of the wine makes for a few centuries for a good living. In terms of exports in drums but it always comes back to illicit counterfeiting ( adulteration, dilution with water, etc.) so that the introduction of bottling the dwindling reputation of the wine eked out quickly. From 1860, the wine-growing region is however plagued by mildew and 1892 by phylloxera. This sealed in combination with the First World War almost the end of viticulture in Jurançon. Only the recognition of AOC promises winemakers again a guaranteed income, so that developed the area since 1936 back to a quality wine supplier.

Varieties

The dry and sweet white wines are made from the grape varieties Camaralet de Lasseube (maximum 15%), Courbu, Gros Manseng and Lauzet (maximum 15%). For some years, but the Petit Manseng grape better quality is again reinforced beige planted. It is already foreseeable that this sort of Leitrebe Jurançon will be. Since 1975 it is also allowed to declare the wine as readout (French vendange tardive ). This special position enjoys the field alone with the Alsace Grand Cru appellation in France

The grape varieties Jurançon Noir and Blanc Jurançon not be used in this region.

Climate

The growing area is located about 100 km from the Atlantic Ocean and a maximum of 50 km from the Pyrenees. The climate is therefore strongly influenced by the coming from the west or northwest Atlantic low pressure systems. The annual rainfall is 1120 mm, the annual sunshine duration at moderate for the southern location 1900 hours.

The average temperature is in spite of the excessive sunshine duration in mild 12.5-13 degrees Celsius. This is explained by the greenhouse effect of a frequently dammed in the Pyrenees clouds. In addition, the area of warm fall winds benefits. Favored microclimate table are slopes, there is jammed in the valley cold air.