Haut-Armagnac
Encyclopedia
Haut-Armagnac, one of the three terroir
s (plantation areas) in the Armagnac
area where the grapes for the distillation
of the Armagnac
eau-de-vie can be cultivated. It lies to the south and east of Bas-Armagnac
and Armagnac-Ténarèze
, the two other areas, and is much the largest of the three.
Together the three areas form a single region where Armagnac
, Côtes de Gascogne
and Floc de Gascogne
, which share the same AOC
-limits, can be produced.
The area is called "white Armagnac" because of the abundance of limestone. It includes the eastern part of the department of Gers
and a small part of Lot-et-Garonne
. Viticulture was developed here in the 19th century to meet a the high market demand. Today the original vineyards still exist but only represent a small amount of the production.
Haut-Armagnac includes the towns of Marciac
and Lectoure
and the capital of Gers
, the city of Auch
.
The vineyards are scattered like islands over the chalky clay hills.
Terroir
Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties...
s (plantation areas) in the Armagnac
Armagnac (region)
The hilly countship of Armagnac , in the foothills of the Pyrenées between the Adour and Garonne rivers, is a historic countship of the Duchy of Gascony, established in 601 in Aquitaine...
area where the grapes for the distillation
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
of the Armagnac
Armagnac (drink)
Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy or eau de vie produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of Armagnac grapes, including Baco 22A, Colombard, and Ugni Blanc, using column stills rather than the pot stills used in the...
eau-de-vie can be cultivated. It lies to the south and east of Bas-Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac is one of the three plantation areas in the Armagnac area where grapes for the distillation of the Armagnac eau-de-vie can be cultivated. It extends over the Landes and Gers departments and represents 57% of the vineyards. It lies in the west, beside Armagnac-Ténarèze, an undulating...
and Armagnac-Ténarèze
Armagnac-Ténarèze
Armagnac-Ténarèze, one of the three terroirs in the Armagnac region where grapes for the distillation of the Armagnac eau-de-vie can be cultivated. This area lies between Bas-Armagnac and Haut-Armagnac, covering the northwestern part of the department of Gers and the southern part of Lot-et-Garonne...
, the two other areas, and is much the largest of the three.
Together the three areas form a single region where Armagnac
Armagnac (drink)
Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy or eau de vie produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of Armagnac grapes, including Baco 22A, Colombard, and Ugni Blanc, using column stills rather than the pot stills used in the...
, Côtes de Gascogne
Côtes de Gascogne
Côtes de Gascogne is a wine-growing district in Gascony producing principally white wine. It is mainly located in the département of the Gers in the French region Midi-Pyrénées, and it belongs to the wine region South West France. The designation Côtes the Gascogne is used for a Vin de Pays ...
and Floc de Gascogne
Floc de Gascogne
The Floc de Gascogne is a regional apéritif from the Côtes de Gascogne and Armagnac regions of Sud-Ouest wine region of France. It is a vin de liqueur fortified with armagnac, the local brandy...
, which share the same AOC
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
-limits, can be produced.
The area is called "white Armagnac" because of the abundance of limestone. It includes the eastern part of the department of Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
and a small part of Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne
Lot-et-Garonne is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot and Garonne rivers.-History:Lot-et-Garonne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
. Viticulture was developed here in the 19th century to meet a the high market demand. Today the original vineyards still exist but only represent a small amount of the production.
Haut-Armagnac includes the towns of Marciac
Marciac
Marciac is a commune in the Gers department in southwestern France. It is known for its annual international jazz festival, which runs for a fortnight every summer.-Features:...
and Lectoure
Lectoure
Lectoure is a commune in the Gers department in the Midi-Pyrénées in southwestern France.It is located north of Auch, the capital of the department, south of Agen and approximately northwest of Toulouse.-History:...
and the capital of Gers
Gers
The Gers is a department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in the southwest of France named after the Gers River.Inhabitants are called les Gersois or Gersoises.-History:...
, the city of Auch
Auch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
.
The vineyards are scattered like islands over the chalky clay hills.