I passed by here many times on my way to Spain, always using it as a rest stop either at Pau or around Gan. As time went on, we spent more time around here and finally base in Pau for several days. Eventually we came for a visit to the Caves de Jurançon in Gan. It was a marvelous visit ,very friendly ,informative, and great tastings, So much we are on direct mailing from them and ordered every years their wines, My previous post was on the visit, eating and visiting, this one will be with updated info and more on the wine with older pictures not yet in my blog and they should be, Therefore, here are the Caves de Jurançon of Gan, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
For a brief intro ; Gan is located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department 64 in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region (even thus fiercily keeping the old habits of the Béarn) . 9 km south of Pau. The wonderful Caves des Jurançon, a wine cooperative of Gan founded in 1949, and its delicious Jurançon wines. To find it is real easy as there are right on the National roadN134 at Gan just south of Pau. Just follow direction Centre Ville Gan and you will hit the cellars or Caves! Ample free parking as the Caves occupies spaces on both sides of Avenue Henri IV (N134) in Gan.
The cellar of Jurançon plays a major role in the Jurançon and Béarn AOC, bringing together 220 winegrowers. Located a few steps from Pau, this cooperative is committed and respectful of its terroirs. Founded in 1949, it has become a landmark in the Béarn. The wine of the Jurançon: a good wine is made with good grapes, sun, rain and foehn. Its most famous grape varieties are the small and the big Manseng (petit et gros manseng). On the vineyard of the piedmont Pyrenean, the vines are planted in the direction of the slope and are oriented to the South in order to be sheltered from the West wind. Harvest by hand, sort with love, vinify patiently… so many steps necessary to the quality of the wines of the Jurançon.
The building is where they have the process of receiving grapes from the coopératives (across the street) that are members of the cave, 1200 hectares in over 25 towns,with about 750 hectares own direct by the Cave. The grapes are separated along the two main grapes gros manseng and petit manseng for the whites dry and moelleux or sweet sort of they go from dry to late vendage very sweet, they also do rosé and red wines from coopératives in other regions of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. They are blended base on the master winemaker decision base on quality.The harvest takes place from mid-September to mid-December.
We then, took the ride on a petit train or little train into the back of the building where huge aluminum tanks stored the juice for fermetation and treatment. And we ran across with the little train to see the building across the street where they do the filling, labeling ,and packaging of the wines with special computised machines including a robot that does 6000 bottles per hour. The place hold about 80 full time employees and the automation has not decrease the number. They ship 10% international ,30% to individuals, another 30% to small stores mom and pop places and 30% to big distribution. We are glad to be part of the 30% to individual buyers!!!
Once the trip was done we headed back to the main platform where grapes are received for a free tastings of all their lineup of wines!! Of course, we tasted them all!!! It was great the lady was very nice and we were serve sausages,and cheese to eat along the way. You were given a list with prices and another pamphlet with the wines and matching suggestions. After all this process and wandering about the place we headed for the boutique store for purchases. We already had our price list completed with the wines we wanted, handed it over and they do all the packaging for you. We purchase two cases of different wines for my cellar ::) and we did said goodbye to all, a wonderful day , and very friendly folks; makes you come back for more….And we had!!! We had always friendly welcome and sharing here, and I am on their mailing list , so if not stopping by ,get my wines by domestic transport to my house. YES !!! The Cave de Gan – Jurançon are one of the most visited in France with almost 270 000 visitors per year !
The official Caves de Jurançon and their distinctions: https://www.cavedejurancon.com/la-cave/distinctions.html?___store=uk
The Pau tourist office on the Caves de Jurançon: https://www.pau-pyrenees.com/home/pourquoi-venir-chez-nous-/pau-mag/suivez-le-guide-a-la-cave-cooperative-de-jurancon
The official other Wines of Jurançon: https://www.vins-jurancon.fr/page/12-Terroir
The city of Gan on its heritage: https://gan.pau.fr/rechercher/patrimoine
There you go folks, in all a wonderful time each time there with funny moments, great company, excellent guide and plenty of bottles home to continue the tradition !!! En vino veritas!!! Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Caves des Jurançon of Gan ,part II !!! as I
And remember, happy travel, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 