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Jurançon is a wine appellation in the South-West region of France. It is produced in Béarn in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. The vineyard produces mainly dry white wines and sweet wines. Jurançon has held the French AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) label since 1936 for its sweet wines and since 1975 for its dry white wines.
Jurançon is a royal wine
Legend has it that Henri II of Navarre bought a vineyard in Jurançon in the 16th century and used the wine for the baptism of his grandson, King Henri IV. During this period, vines produced most of the region’s wealth.
Three centuries later, the vineyards were devastated by several diseases, including oidium, phylloxera and mildew. Poor-quality grape varieties were replanted and Jurançon was used only as a mass wine. The second half of the 20th century saw a renaissance in vine-growing, and Jurançon gradually regained its superb reputation.
Since the 1980s, young winemakers have been striving to perpetuate Jurançon’s reputation, notably by creating a “wine route”. Winegrowers wishing to use the name Jurançon must comply with a number of criteria, including a minimum planting density of 4,000 vines per hectare, a proportion of main grape varieties exceeding 50% of the total, and a minimum natural alcohol content of 11.5% for dry Jurançon, 14% for Jurançon and 17% for Jurançon with the addition of the “vendanges tardives” (late harvest) label.
The segmented Jurançon vineyard
The Jurançon vineyards are located southwest of Madiran in southern Béarn, on the Pyrenean foothills southwest of Pau. Covering almost 1,000 hectares of vines, the vineyard is divided into two zones.
At altitudes between 300 and 400 meters, these lands benefit from a constant supply of water during the hottest periods, thanks to underground water reserves. Cultivated on hillsides, the vines are planted on terraces or in the direction of the slope. They face south and are protected from the wind.
Jurançon is an intense, elegant wine
Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Courbu are the main grape varieties used.
Jurançon stands out for its sublime golden color. The wines may have some green tints in their youth. In the cellar, a Jurançon kept for a few years will have a color tending towards old gold. Dry Jurançon has a pale color oscillating between golden yellow and green.
On the nose, Jurançon sec offers the aromatic peaks of a sweet wine, with a particular focus on honey and spices. The sweet Jurançon has a strong honey aroma. Its aromatic palette blends fruit, flowers and spices.
On the palate, Jurançon sec has a powerful attack. Roundness, density and, above all, explosive fruit that occupies the entire palate. There’s also plenty of freshness on the palate, providing balance and a long, smooth finish that fluctuates between fruit and sweetness. If kept in the cellar for a few years, the palate becomes richer and honeyed notes appear. The sweet Jurançon has a gentle attack, delicate texture and generous fruit. The acidity-sweetness balance is perfect, and the wine is smooth and light on the palate.
On average, a dry Jurançon can be cellared for 5 years. Sweet Jurançon, on the other hand, can be kept longer, up to 20 years for the best vintages.
Jurançon is the perfect match for local produce
Dry Jurançon is the perfect accompaniment to Pyrenean trout, poultry in sauce or Adour salmon. This wine is perfect with local cheeses, especially goat’s cheese. More generally, dry Jurançon sublimates both the sea (shellfish, fish) and the land (white meats, charcuterie).
Perfect as an aperitif, Jurançon is ideal with foie gras and cheeses, especially ewe’s milk. It also goes well with Bleu d’Auvergne, Roquefort and Fourme d’Ambert cheeses. All Jurançon wines should be drunk chilled, between 6 and 10°C.
2005, a great year for Jurançon
Jurançon sec was awarded vintage of the century in 2005, exceptional vintage in 1988 and 1990 and excellent vintage in 1983, 1985 and 1989. Jurançon produced its millennium vintage in 2005, its century vintages in 1990 and 2001, its exceptional vintage in 1988 and its excellent vintages in 2004 and 2011.
Jurançon is a wine of extreme delicacy
Domaine Du Cinquau
Domaine du Cinquau has been producing Jurançon wines since the 17th century. His vineyards stretch over twelve hectares across Béarn. The grapes are lovingly matured to produce a high-quality wine. The estate has been owned by the same family since 1617!
Domaine Cauhapé
Domaine Cauhapé, a renowned Jurançon winegrower, is a forty-seven-hectare south-facing vineyard where the vines enjoy exceptional climatic conditions. The vines are worked exclusively by hand, and extreme care is taken during vinification. This quality work was rewarded in 2019 by the famous magazine Decanter with a platinum medal for its 2016 vintage of Jurançon sec “La canopée”.
