The countryside round Bergerac produces wine many wines and has thirteen appellations controlees in its region.

The appellation controlee system

The appellation controlee system, now extends throughout the European common market member states. It gives a guarantee of both origin and quality. A wine bearing one of the thirteen appellations applicable to the Bergerac region will be guaranteed as coming from that part of the region. It will also have had to comply with strict conditions, such as the amount of grapes harvested per hectare and the variety used.

The Bergerac red appellation controlee

Bergerac Rouge is the generic appellation, available to any wine-producer in the 12,000 hectares of defined Bergerac wine-growing area producing red wine. The wine grower must use at least two of the four prescribed grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. the Merlot grape is the main variety and it accounts for 60% of the Bergerac red wines.

Also available throughout the Bergerac Red wine growing area is the appellation controlee name of Cotes de Bergerac for red wines of a higher quality than the simple Bergerac Rouge. These reds have to pass strict conditions and are described as a vin de gastronomie.

Bergerac Pecharmant and Montravel rouge - red wines

There are two appellation controlee labels that are for precise geographic regions. Red wines with the Pecharmant rouge label come from an area of 400 hectares to the northeast of Bergerac that comprises of about 40 wine producers and a co-operative. The soil in this area contains traces of iron, which gives the wine a distinctive taste. Red wines with the Montravel rouge label, come from an area between Velines and the Dordogne river, to the west of Bergerac.

Bergerac white and rose wines

Grapes to make Bergerac white wine are widely grown on both banks of the Dordogne. The soil producing most of the white wine stretches along the plains bordering the river Dordogne and some of the hillsides. Bergerac Montravel labelled white wine, is restricted to white wines produced in the Montravel region to the west of Bergerac. The soil here has flint deposits which are said to add a dimension to the usual aromas of citrus, peach and apricot in the Bergerac white wines. Bergerac rosé, is usually quite dry and very drinkable cold in warm weather. As in the case of Bergerac rouge, the appellation of Bergerac sec is available for white wines throughout the wine growing region.

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