Madiran:
Produced from local grape varieties such as Tannat, Pinenc or Fer Servadou, Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon, Madiran wine is subject by decree to a compulsory one-year ageing before being marketed. It is a distinguished red wine which will accompany beautifully red meats, spiced dishes or cheeses.
Pacherenc du Vic Bilh:
This is the other noble wine of the region. Made from white grape varieties such as Arrufiac, Petit Courbu and Gros Manseng, the over-ripened grapes are hand-picked by grape-pickers, from October until December, through successive harvests. The wine-producing year finishes with the famous harvest of New Year’s Eve which takes place in Viella at midnight. The Pacherenc appeals first by its freshness and its smoothness and deliciously complements foie gras, aperitifs or desserts.
The vineyard is likely to have been planted in the 4th century BC. In the 10th century, Benedictine monks founded the Madiran abbey and improved the quality of the wine. On their way to Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims, stopping over at the abbey, tasted the wine and spread its reputation all over Europe. In 1948, Madiran became a registered designation of origin as did the mellow white wine Pacherenc du Vic Bilh produced on the same soil.
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