Cotes-to-gascogne

The Cotes-to-gascogne is a Vin de Pays zone occurring in the same soil as the Armagnac region in the Southwest. This was the decree of September 13^th 1968 which gave birth to the wine country, distinguishing them from table wines.

A decree of specific wines of Cotes de Gascogne was published in the Official Journal on January 25^th 1982.  It defines the production conditions for obtaining approval. This soil is characterized by an oceanic climate gradient, characterized by mild, wet winters and hot summers that are often stormy.

The vineyard lies mainly in the department of Gers, where almost two thirds of the vines is 11,700 hectares that is devoted to growing wine in Cotes-to-Gascogne. This vineyard covers the townships of Auch, Cazaubon, Condom, Fleurance of Jegun, Lectoure, de Montesquiou, Montreal, Nogaro, Riscle of Plaisance, Aignan, Valence-sur-Baise and Vic-Fezensac.  Les Landes and the Lot-et-Garonne are the other two producing departments to areas bordering the Gers.
Grape varieties
The Capag Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Tannat were assembled for the production of red and rose wines. The white wine was called: Colombard; Ugni Blanc; Petit Manseng; Sauvignon Blanc; Semillon; Chardonnay and Gros Manseng.

Farming methods and rules
The classification into wine country means respecting rules of production and high standards, culminating in a formal quality accreditation. Under the Ministry of Agriculture, it is the producers themselves in their union bodies, who ensure the quality of production and lay down rules of production and marketing.
Terroir and Wine
This wine country shares with Armagnac and Floc de Gascogne in the same local geographic boundaries of their Designation of Origin.
Farm structure
A union of wine producers country-to-Cotes Gascogne was founded on May 15^th 1979, with the missionla defense of collective and individual interests of its members.  It has more than 1,400 producers.  Polyculture, still very present, has a small acreage of vines that says 1,300 of them belong to cooperatives, and there are only 150 independent growers.
Type of wine and gastronomy

Marketing
There is more than 830,000 hl consisting of white which represents 91% of production, 8% of red and pink Red 1%.