Grape Guide
Gros Manseng
WhiteGros Manseng is a thick-skinned white grape of south-west France, the larger-berried relative of Petit Manseng and the main source of dry Jurançon and much of the Côtes de Gascogne white. It ripens late and holds high acidity at generous yields, giving fresh citrus and tropical wines, or rich sweet wines when picked very late.
Key Characteristics
- Early budding and late ripening, with vigorous growth
- Thick skins resist botrytis and allow very late harvests
- Susceptible to powdery mildew
- DNA analysis indicates a Petit Manseng offspring and a Savagnin grandchild
- Higher yields than Petit Manseng, with acidity kept at high sugar levels
Typical Flavors
Major Regions
Jurançon · Côtes de Gascogne IGP · Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh · Irouléguy · Béarn · Arabako Txakolina (Spain) · Bizkaiko Txakolina (Spain)
Also Known As
Gros Mansenc · Manseng Gros Blanc · Izkiriot Haundi (Basque Country) · Iskiriota Zuri Handia (Basque Country)
Overview
Gros Manseng is the workhorse of the Pyrenean foothills in south-west France. It is the principal grape behind dry Jurançon, a regular partner in the white wines of Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, Irouléguy and Béarn, and a major component of the Côtes de Gascogne IGP, where it is often blended with Colombard or Sauvignon Blanc. Its wines are generally fuller and less fine than those of Petit Manseng, but they are far from simple, with firm acidity and real weight. The typical profile is grapefruit and other citrus, apricot and a touch of spice, sometimes with floral notes. Late-harvest versions intensify these flavours towards dried apricot and honey. The grape is also authorised in all three Basque txakoli appellations in Spain, and it has a very small footprint in Uruguay and Brazil.
Origins & History
The name Manseng first appears in writing in 1562, in an Occitan text from Jurançon that refers to a 'vinhe mansengue'. That record does not say which of the two Mansengs was meant. The two were first distinguished in a document of 1783 to 1784, which describes the Gros as golden in colour with a good, somewhat sharp taste, and the Petit as sharper still. The name itself may come from the Occitan word mans, meaning a mansion or homestead, though this etymology is not firmly established. Ampelographers have long placed Gros Manseng close to Petit Manseng. A DNA study published in 2011 reconstructed the likely pedigree of many south-western French varieties and indicated that Gros Manseng is an offspring of Petit Manseng, which in turn makes it a grandchild of Savagnin. Its homeland is the Pyrenean piedmont of Béarn and Gascony, and from there it crossed the Spanish border into the Basque Country, where it is known as Izkiriota Zuri Handia. A notable identification problem came to light in Australia in 2020. Vines imported by CSIRO in 1979 under the name Petit Manseng were tested against reference material in Montpellier and proved to be Gros Manseng. Wine Australia advised that wines from the 2020 vintage onwards should be labelled Gros Manseng, and that earlier wines had been labelled in good faith.
Viticultural Characteristics
Gros Manseng buds early and ripens late. It is vigorous and reasonably fertile, and is usually trained with long pruning, though that is not essential. The main fungal concern is powdery mildew. Thick skins make the bunches resilient against botrytis rot, so growers can leave fruit hanging well into autumn or even winter when aiming for sweet wines. The berries are small and can build up high sugar while holding on to high acidity, which suits the variety to both fresh dry wines and late-harvest styles. It yields more heavily than Petit Manseng. France had about 2,919 ha of Gros Manseng in 2009, against about 1,019 ha of Petit Manseng, with most of the Gros Manseng in the Gers department. Later estimates run from roughly 2,800 ha to more than 3,800 ha, depending on source and year.
Wine Styles & Characteristics
Most Gros Manseng ends up as dry white. Bottlings from Jurançon Sec, Irouléguy, Béarn and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh show citrus, apricot and a touch of spice, backed by firm acidity and a full-bodied feel. In the Côtes de Gascogne IGP the grape is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc or other regional varieties, yielding lighter, fruit-forward whites intended to be drunk young. Because the skins are thick, the grapes call for careful, gentle handling in the winery; otherwise bitter or astringent notes can appear. Sweet wines are a secondary use. Gros Manseng may go into Jurançon vendanges tardives, and a few growers make late-harvest wines from fruit left on the vine until January. It is also allowed in Floc de Gascogne, the Gascon mistelle. Domaine Cauhapé's Ballet d'Octobre, a sweet Jurançon that has blended Gros and Petit Manseng in many vintages, is among the best-known examples. Other respected names include Producteurs Plaimont, Domaine Bellegarde and Clos Lapeyre, whose wines mostly pair Gros and Petit Manseng with other local grapes.