🍇 Tannat
A red grape from south-west France, the backbone of the tannic Madiran blend; 1,784 ha in Uruguay (2009).
Tannat is a red wine grape from south-west France. Its best-known wine is Madiran, a dark, tannic blend in which Tannat dominates. The variety gives very dark, tannic wines with good ageing potential. Uruguay has become its second home: VIVC records 1,784 ha there (2009), more than half the French area.
Tannat's parents are unknown. Among its 14 synonyms in VIVC are Madiran, Harriague, Bordelez beltza and Moustrou. In France its area gradually declined: 4,192 ha in 1958 and 2,914 ha in 2009. There are also small areas in Argentina (553 ha, 2008) and Brazil (421 ha, 2007).
The technical file of the Madiran appellation says that Tannat appeared here in the 18th century alongside the old varieties Fer and Bouchy (Cabernet Franc): the markets wanted very dark, tannic wines able to keep for a long time. The name Madiran was first mentioned in 1744, the appellation was recognised in 1948, and the vineyards now cover about 1,300 ha. The variety is described as vigorous, fairly late and prone to grey rot.
Madiran wine is a blend of Tannat with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer. Destemming is compulsory, and the wine is aged at least until 15 October of the year after the harvest so that the tannins soften. New varieties descend from Tannat, among them Arinarnoa and Ekigaïna, crosses with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Why it matters to you. Madiran is not 100 % Tannat but a blend in which it leads; a young wine can be very astringent, so it is worth ageing. Red wines are served at 15–18 °C and stored lying down, in the dark, at 10–16 °C.
Facts
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | South West France (Madiran); Uruguay 1,784 ha (2009) |
| Main use | wine grape |
How it connects to Wine
🍇 Tannat → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 French, 🧑🤝🧑 Uruguayans
- Part of
- 🍇 Grape varieties
- Origin
- 🗺️ French wine
- Where it grows
- 📜 Madiran, 📍 South West France, 📍 Gascony, 📍 Pyrenees (Béarn and Basque Country)
- Related to
- 📍 South West France
- Main grape in
- 📜 Irouléguy, 📜 Madiran, 📜 Saint-Mont, 📜 Tursan, 📜 Brulhois, 📜 Cahors, 📜 Béarn, 📜 Coteaux du Quercy, 📜 Saint-Sardos
- Offspring
- 🍇 Arinarnoa, 🍇 Ekigaïna
- Similar and different
- 🍇 Malbec
Frequently asked questions
Where does Tannat come from?
From south-west France; its best-known wine is Madiran.
Is it true that Madiran is 100 % Tannat?
No. It is a blend in which Tannat dominates, with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer.
How much Tannat is there in Uruguay?
1,784 ha in 2009 (VIVC).
When was the Madiran appellation recognised?
In 1948; the name Madiran itself was mentioned as early as 1744.
Why is Madiran wine aged?
To soften the tannins: ageing lasts at least until 15 October of the year after the harvest.
What to read next
- 🗺️ French wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes and appellations.
- 📍 South West France — The land between the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and the Atlantic; IGP Comté Tolosan across 12 departments, Cahors, Madiran and Jurançon.
- 📜 Cahors — A dark Malbec red from the Lot River valley around Cahors.
- 🍇 Malbec — A red grape from south-west France, where it is called Cot; Argentina's leading variety with 40,000 ha, 17.8 % of the vineyards (2015).
- 🧑🤝🧑 French — The French are the main population of France, known for the festive meal and baguette on UNESCO's list, for wine and for cheese.
Similar
🍇 Malbec · 🍇 Alicante Bouschet · 🍇 Bastardo · 🍇 Muscadelle · 🍇 Villard Blanc · 🍇 Gros Manseng
Sources
- eAmbrosia — technical file: PDO «Madiran» (Ares(2011)1357548)
- VIVC (Vitis International Variety Catalogue): passport Tannat
- VIVC: area statistics TANNAT
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/33 (grape varieties on labels)
- Simons C.T. Left out in the cold: Serving wines chilled. Temperature, 2019
- Purdue Extension FS-58-W: Wine storage