La Belle France

Comté Tolosan IGP

For unpretentious but boldly flavored wine, look no further than Comté Tolosan in the southwest of France. This sprawling region is bordered by mountains—the rugged Pyrenees to the south and the Massif Central to the northeast—with the Atlantic Ocean providing maritime influence from the west. Most Comté Tolosan wines come from along the banks of the Garonne River, where well-drained terraces help grapes develop a deep concentration of flavor. Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc are the most popular grapes here, but you will also see plenty of rare red and white blends made from local grapes like Tannat, Colombard and Petit Manseng. IGP (Indication Géographique protégée) within France’s wine classification system focuses on controlling regional and geographical origin. The category is less restrictive than the AOC classification and gives winemakers more freedom with style and taste profile when creating wines.