The Irouléguy vineyard: “Vineyard of the Basque mountains”
This 270-hectare vineyard, one of the smallest AOP vineyards in France (AOC in 1970), is located in the Basque country, between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
Planted in the 12th century by the monks of the Abbey of Ronceveaux to supply pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, the Irouléguy vineyard extends over some fifteen communes. 2/3 of the vineyards are cultivated on terraces, at an altitude of between 200 and 400 meters.
The vineyard is owned and managed by the Syndicat des Vins d’Irouléguy, and today boasts 60 members, including 18 independent producers and 1 cooperative winery. Internationally renowned for its fruit-based spirits, in particular pears, Domaine Brana occupies a leading position in this renowned vineyard.
The Irouléguy vineyards are currently undergoing a major transformation, with more and more winemakers setting up on their own and breaking away from the traditional cooperative cellar system. These are young winegrowers, often from mixed farming operations, who are starting to make their own wine.
The grape varieties for red wines are Tannat (emblematic of this vineyard), Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Red wines are powerful and fleshy. The rustic look of Tannat wines is now a thing of the past, and with climate change, these wines are much more modern, supple and remarkably easy to drink.
White wines (only 10% of the volume produced) are made from Gros Manseng, Petit Manseng, Petit Courbu and Courbu Blanc grapes. They are exceptionally fresh, with aromatic complexity generally drawing on exotic fruits.
This vineyard, located in the heart of an exceptional tourist region, enjoys an excellent reputation. All you have to do is visit it, when you’re passing through the Basque Country. Ossau-Iraty ewe’s milk cheese, produced in the same region, is the perfect accompaniment to your discovery of these surprising wines!
