Thezac-Perricard is an IGP-level denomination of southwest France, covering an area of land within the Lot-et-Garonne administrative department. While its geographical area is not shared with any AOC-level appellations, the vineyards of Cahors are immediately to the east. It is perhaps not surprising then that the majority of Thezac-Perricard wines are made of Malbec, known here as Cot, and present a lighter, softer version of the rich red wines for which Cahors is renowned.
The permitted vineyard area of the IGP covers six communes on the very eastern edge of Lot-et-Garonne, on the southern banks of the Lot river. The landscape is hilly and undulating, covered with various forms of agriculture to which viticulture only contributes minimally: vineyards occupy about 110 acres (45ha) of land.
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The terroir in the area is well suited to winegrowing, although not quite as favorable as that of Cahors to the east. While the maritime climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, 110 miles (175km) to the west, the area is drier and warmer than the vineyards of Bordeaux in the northwest. Winds from the Atlantic help to cool the area, bringing drying influences that all but eliminate disease pressure in Thezac-Perrinard’s vineyards.
The soils in the Thezac-Perricard vineyards are generally loose and pebbly, made up of limestone and marl contributed from the nearby Quercy Plateau. These well-drained soils are good for viticulture as they allow water to drain away from the roots, lessening vigor and leading to the production of more concentrated grapes.
Most Thezac-Perricard wines are red, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Gamay may join Cot in the vineyards. Some rosé and white wines are also made here, the latter from local grape varieties like Gros Manseng and Ugni Blanc along with Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.
Despite the region’s small output and lack of recognition, winemaking has a fairly long history here. Tsar Nicolas II, Russia’s last monarch prior to the 1917 Russian revolution, was gifted a number of bottles by the then-president of France, and enjoyed it so much he ordered more. Today, Thezac-Perricard wines are colloquially known within Lot-et-Garonne as "Vin du Tsar".
Wines from this small area were previously known as Vin de Pays de Thezac-Perricard. However, as the Vin de Pays category was removed from French wine law starting in 2009, Thezac-Perricard wines are now classified under the Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP) category.
