Jurançon PDO

AOP Jurançon in a nutshell

The Jurançon PDO, nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is an appellation renowned for its dry and sweet white wines. Located in the Béarn region, this wine-growing area is one of the oldest in France, with a history dating back to Roman times. Jurançon wines, famous for their aromatic richness and freshness, derive their uniqueness from local grape varieties such as Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng.

The organic wines of Jurançon stand out for their typicity and elegance. The dry whites seduce with their liveliness and notes of citrus and flowers, while the mellow wines, often produced from late harvests, offer an explosion of aromas of exotic fruits, honey and spices.

With its terroir, Jurançon is the perfect place to start a new career.

With an exceptional terroir and production geared towards sustainable practices, Jurançon PDO embodies the perfect marriage between tradition and respect for the environment. These wines, perfect for accompanying refined dishes or desserts, are a must for lovers of great aromatic whites.

The Jurançon PDO vineyard covers around 1,000 hectares in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, around the town of Pau. It rises between 300 and 400 meters above sea level, on gently sloping or steep, south-facing hillsides benefiting from optimal sunshine. Jurançon's terroir is based mainly on clay-silica and limestone soils, which contribute to the freshness and minerality of the wines. The proximity of the Pyrenees has a strong influence on the climate, bringing cool winds that favor slow ripening of the grapes. These conditions are ideal for preserving the natural acidity of the grape varieties while developing complex aromas.

A particular climatic feature of the region is the foehn, a warm wind that dries out the grapes and enables late harvests without rot. This phenomenon is particularly favorable for sweet wines, which reach a natural concentration of sugars while retaining a beautiful acidity.This unique terroir, combined with respectful viticultural practices, allows Jurançon organic wines to express all their finesse and aromatic richness, whether dry or sweet.

The Jurançon PDO is a unique area in the world of winegrowing.

The Jurançon PDO is based on autochthonous grape varieties that give the wines their unique identity. These grape varieties, grown with care and often using organic or biodynamic practices, form the basis of Jurançon organic wines.

Petit Manseng: This emblematic grape variety is used for sweet wines and, occasionally, for some high-end dry wines. It is known for its ability to accumulate sugars while retaining remarkable acidity, resulting in balanced, complex wines. Petit Manseng offers aromas of exotic fruits (mango, pineapple), honey, spices and white flowers.

Gros Manseng: More productive than Petit Manseng, this variety is often used for dry wines. It brings lovely freshness and aromas of grapefruit, lemon, apple and flowers.

Courbu: More productive than Petit Manseng, this grape variety is often used for dry wines.

Courbu: Rarer, this grape variety is used as a complement to add finesse and complexity to blends. It imparts subtle floral notes and a lovely texture on the palate.

Courbu: More rare, this variety is used as a complement to add finesse and complexity to blends.

These grape varieties, often harvested by hand, enable winemakers to produce organic wines of great diversity, combining freshness, richness and aromatic intensity, making Jurançon PDO a unique appellation.

AOP Jurançon is known for its two great styles of white wine: dry and sweet. Each offers a unique tasting experience, reflecting the richness of the terroir and the expertise of the winemakers.

Dry white wines:

Mostly made from Gros Manseng grapes, Jurançon dry wines are lively and elegant, with good acidity giving them great freshness. They present aromas of citrus (lemon, grapefruit), white-fleshed fruit and white flowers, sometimes with a mineral touch. On the palate, they are balanced and persistent, perfect for accompanying seafood, grilled fish or vegetable-based dishes.

Sweet white wines:

The sweet wines of Jurançon are made from late harvests, often carried out in November or December. These overripe grapes, sometimes lightly raisined, produce rich, intense wines with aromas of exotic fruits (mango, pineapple), honey, sweet spices and dried flowers. On the palate, the balance between sugar and acidity is remarkable, offering a sensation of lightness despite their richness. These wines are perfect with foie gras, fruity desserts or blue-veined cheeses like Roquefort.

The diversity of these two styles makes Jurançon organic wines an ideal choice for all occasions, from aperitifs to desserts.

The organic wines of Jurançon PDO represent a perfect alliance between tradition, terroir and respect for the environment. Many of the appellation's winemakers are committed to organic or biodynamic practices, promoting sustainable viticulture and preserving biodiversity. Jurançon wines are distinguished by their exceptional balance between freshness and aromatic richness, whether dry or sweet. When you choose an organic wine from this appellation, you're choosing a product crafted with passion and care, where each bottle reflects the authenticity and uniqueness of the Pyrenean terroir.

Taste Camin Larredya, Clos Lapeyre or le Clos Thou, 3 flagship organic estates of the Jurançon PDO, located on Chapelle de Rousse, probably the highest quality in the appellation thanks to its superb hillsides!