The Jurançon AOC was created in 1936, becoming then one of the first French AOC. Nowadays it stretches over a one thousand hectares area, a sloping vineyard region with a 300 meters altitude average producing about 50 000 hectolitres a year.

The “terroir” is made of sandy-clay, rich in round smooth pebbles (poudingues de Jurançon, diamond calcite from Pau). Vineyards are traditionally planted following terraces on the hillsides, taking sometimes the shape of an amphitheatre.

Most of the time exposed to the South, the Jurançon vineyards face the Pyrénées. As for its climate, it enjoys good rains during the spring, a particularly soft weather during the fall, then interrupted by the severity of the first wintry frosts: perfect conditions for “passerillage”, the extra maturation process on the cep which makes the “Grands Vins Moelleux” so famous.

The “Gros Manseng” represents 58% of the local vineyards, and is complementary with the “Petit Manseng” (39% of the vineyards). The latest is characterised by its small berries, particularly suitable for passerillage. It gives their typical aromatic concentration not only to the Grands Vins Moelleux (sweet wine) but also to some Vins Secs (dry wine).