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Luxury French Farmhouse, Affordable prices
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JURANCON WINE
This is our local wine, with views over the vineyards from the farmhouse. We offer wine tasting weekends and wine tasting short breaks, see below.
Jurancon was supposedly the first wine in the world to gain the 'Appellation Controlee' status. The area produces this high quality, white wine both as a sweet and a dry wine, with the vineyards facing the Pyrenees mountains. It is a wine highly rated by experts. You will find, as in so many areas of France, the local wine also matches the local produce. A local speciality is a glass of Jurancon Doux with Foie Gras.
Jurancon wine is well known in France and at world leading top restaurants, by wine enthusiasts and experts. It is also something of a well-kept secret. It is considered to be some of France's best wine (some can be found in the UK at Oddbins and Waitrose). Unlike many areas in France where they have been taking vines out due to over production (mostly of low quality grape types), the Jurancon area is planting more vines as demand outstrips supply. Jurancon wine is made from 2 grape varieties, the gros manseng and the petit manseng.
ITS HISTORY:
Jurancon wine has enjoyed 'appellation d'origine controlee' (A.O.C.) since 1936. Jurancon wine is produced from vines grown over an area of 900 hectares on the hillsides facing the grandeur of the Pyrenees. These ancient vines boast a royal history.
In the 14th century, the Princes of Bearn and the Navarre parliament introduced the concept of "cru", based on the value of the parcels of vines. This was a first attempt at wine classification in France and was introduced in Jurancon long before its use in any other French wine region. It was meant as a protective measure to preserve the authenticity of the wines.
In 1553, when Henri IV-the future "Henry the Great"-was born. Jurancon wine became a part of French history when the royal infant was christened, his lips were rubbed with a clove of garlic and moistened with a drop of Jurancon wine from which he derived a vigour and an ardent spirit which were never to leave him. His cradle, a large shell, is on display in Pau chateau.
After many centuries,including the many changes that have recently taken place, the outstanding quality of Jurancon wine has been recognised and has regained its aristocratic seal of approval.
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A local Jurancon vineyard
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Inside Jurancon Wine Tasting Centre at Lasseube
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Tastings/Degustation
Many vineyards offer tastings, though not all. There are about 30 domaines/private vineyards in the Jurancon region as well as a number of growers who send their grapes into the Gan fermentation centre. There are two actual wine towns, Jurancon and Monein. Both have wine festivals, a summer one in August and another in December to celebrate the end of the harvesting which is done quite late here, in October or even November. There is a special wine made by some vineyards with the grapes removed in December when they have almost a raisin-like quality to provide an extra, special taste.
Domaine Cauhape, considered to be one of the very best, has wines from 9 Euros to over 150 Euros per bottle and is is less than 2 km from the farmhouse.
The Lucq vineyard of Domaine Larroude is close to the farmhouse. It has a tasting hall and offers good value with wines starting at 5E a bottle. They also sell wine in half bottles.
If you feel intimidated by a personal visit to a vineyard there are tasting centres in nearby towns of Monein, Lasseube and Jurancon.
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Wine Tasting Weekends/Short Breaks
These can be arranged for your group throughout the year see pricing page for short breaks. Your will find the farmhouse stocked with tea, coffee, milk, soft drinks, beers and of course, some wine.
Each morning there is a hearty breakfast in your farmhouse kitchen of fresh crossiants, fresh baguette from the local bakery, homemade preserves, orange juice, farm eggs, ham, cheese.
Each evening there is a 4 course luxury dinner with regional wines included.
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VERY SPECIAL WINE TASTING WEEKEND
Thurs 4 December - Monday 8 December 2008 (Provisional Date)
Includes everything mentioned above for a standard wine weekend, the hearty breakfasts and 4 course deluxe dinners with wine served to you in the 17th century formal dining room complete with enormous fireplace of the adjacent building:
In addition...
-Visits to the local church (very beautiful) and the nearby, Domaine Larroude, vineyard on Friday evening.
-Lunch on Sunday at an interesting vineyard is included
-Visits to other Jurancon, very differing, vineyards -Special evening talk given by a Master of Wine and former Christies wine auctioneer which will offer some interesting information and amusing anecdotes
£249 per person for this special w/e based on 5 persons (can be for any number from 4 to 8). Note price does not include airfares or car-hire.
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Tasting Area at Domaine Larroude, our local vineyard
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