Tursan is one of South West France's lesser known AOCs, located in the southeast corner of the Landes administrative department. Tursan lends its name mostly to light, fruit-driven red and rosé wines, made predominantly from Cabernet Franc and Tannat, but a small proportion of complex, aromatic white wines are also made here, principally from Baroque and Gros Manseng.
The vineyards covered by the AOC are on the western edge of a cluster of better-known appellations: Armagnac, Madiran and the Côtes de Gascogne IGP among them. The Adour river delimits the northern boundary, while the southern boundary of the AOC is formed by the departmental boundary of Landes itself. Unlike other parts of southern France, Tursan's vineyard area is fractured: maize is much more important to the local economy, and vineyards can be found among the fields of maize on the slopes of the area's low, rolling hills.
Proximity to the Atlantic ocean – just 45 miles (70km) away – contributes an oceanic influence to Tursan's vineyards. There is a relatively high level of rainfall, particularly in the western parts of the area, and vineyards are usually located on well-drained slopes to negate the worst effects of this. Winds from the east bring warmth as well as drying influences, and summers can be hot, with long, warm autumns that allow the grapes to remain on the vine until they can be harvested at the perfect ripeness.
The soils found in Tursan's vineyards are considerably varied, and range from colluvial pebbles to chalky clay and silty gravel. Most vineyards can be found on highly porous tawny sandstone, which is particularly well suited to the grape varieties that are planted here, promoting concentration in the finished wines.
The Tursan AOC has a particularly complex set of laws surrounding the assembly of both red and white wines. The principal varieties must together make up at least 50 percent of the blend. Secondary grape varieties – Chenin Blanc and Petit Manseng for whites, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer for red – must not exceed 30 percent of the blend. Merlot and the little-seen Raffiat de Moncade grapes are limited even further to just 10 percent of the finished wine.
The first evidence of winemaking in Tursan dates back to the 12th Century, when the wines were shipped across France and to England. Viticulture has been a constant in the region since, although phylloxera, war and the growth of a thriving maize industry saw a significant decline in vineyards in the beginning of the 20th Century. The establishment of both a cooperative and the region's first VDQS appellation in the 1950s began the area's recovery, and in 2011, Tursan was promoted to AOC.
