First
vines were planted in Gaillac during
the roman time. A sparkling wine from Gaillac was
very famous in the middle-age.
Wine
growers still use traditional grape varieties such
as Ondenc, Len de l'el and Mauzac in white, Fer,
Duras and Braucol in red. They also use typical grapes
from Bordeaux such as Cabernet, Merlot and Sauvignon,
and from the south such as Syrah and Muscadelle.
The
large variety of grapes explains the diversity of
Gaillac wines.
Red
wines are rustic. White wines are usually dry and
aromatic. Sweet wines from Premières Cotes
de Gaillac are rich and suave. Sparkling wines are
fruity. Rosé wines are light and easy to drink.
Gaillac shows in one single area a complete snapshot
of the wines from South
West of France.
Gaillac
wine information :
| Name: |
Appellation
Gaillac Controlée
Appellation
Premières Cotes de Gaillac Controlée
Appellation
Gaillac Mousseux Controlée |
| Location: |
In
the Tarn district, west of Albi city |
| Places: |
73 villages |
| Soil: |
Clayey
limestone
Gravels |
| Size: |
2,500
ha (6,200 acres) |
| Production: |
10
million bottles |
Grapes in Gaillac: |
Red:
Duras, Fer, Syrah, Cabernet
White:
Len de l'el, Mauzac, Muscadelle
Rosé:
Mauzac |
| Type
of wines: |
Rustic
red wine
Aromatic white wine
Rich sweet wine
Fruity sparkling wine
Light rosé wine |
| Age: |
Red:
up to 5 years
White
and rosé:
drink young |
Vintages:
(recommended) |
2006,
2005, 2004 |
| Aromas: |
Red:
violet, red fruits, licorice
White: flowers, honey,
citrus
Sweet: citrus, fig
|
| Food
with Gaillac: |
Vegetables
(raw)
BBQ
Veal meat
Stew |
Cheese with
Gaillac:
|
Cabecou
Next:
Buzet |
More
pages about South West France : South
West France region
Wines
from South West of France :
Cahors - Jurançon - Madiran - Bergerac - Monbazillac - Buzet - Gaillac - Wines
from South West
About South West wine region :
South
West wine information - South
West region information - South
West france wine map - Winemaking
in South West france - South
West wines and food - Buy
wine - South
West main page
Other
french wine regions :
Alsace - Bordeaux - Bourgogne
/ Burgundy - Champagne - Corsica - Languedoc-Roussillon - Loire
Valley - Provence - Cotes
du Rhone
