Côtes du Marmandais

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The delimited plot area for grape harvesting covers 12,908 hectares, less than a third of the total surface area of the geographical zone.
• On the right bank, the lower part of the slope is formed by the Fronsadais molasse, topped by Stampian-age asteria limestone and then by the Agenais molasse with its silty facies.
• On the left bank, the Agenais molasse forms the backbone of the hillsides, capped by Aquitanian limestones which are overlaid by clay-and-gravel remnants of former Garonne terraces.
• In the Garonne valley, a gravelly terrace covered with wind-blown silt extends over a width of 4 to 5 kilometres, and gravelly soils are exposed where the river network has stripped away this silt.
• The transitional climate sees western oceanic influences gradually fade and southern nuances appear, reinforced by the Autan wind that rises from Languedoc up the Garonne valley.
• The soils planted to vine fall into three main types: brown soils, often calcareous and fairly clay-rich, of medium depth over the molasse formations; rendzinas, sometimes thin, on the limestone levels; and clay-and-gravel soils of podzol type on the terraces.
• August and September enjoy generous sunshine with intense heat, while rainfall is more frequent in December, January and May.

• In 1182, Richard the Lionheart granted the burghers of Marmande a 'Charter of Customs' punishing anyone who watered down or adulterated wine.
• The grape varieties used for red and rosé wines are notably distinctive in including abouriou, a variety unique to the Marmandais, alongside cot, syrah and the three traditional Aquitaine varieties merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon.
• The appellation, recognised as a Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure in 1955, following the founding of the Beaupuy cooperative winery in 1946 and then that of Cocumont in 1957, became an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in 1990.

• The Autan wind promotes rapid development of the grapes during ripening as well as a reduction in disease pressure on the vineyard.
• On the right bank, the calcareous or clay-limestone soils allow the characteristics of the merlot, abouriou and cot grape varieties to be fully expressed.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 5 décembre 2011, JORF 7 décembre 2011, modifié par
• Official trade body site — IVSO — Interprofession des Vins du Sud-Ouest