Gros Manseng (sometimes translated: Large Manseng, rarely "Big Manseng") is a white
wine
Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from Fermentation in winemaking, fermented grapes. Yeast in winemaking, Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different ...
grape variety
This list of grape varieties includes cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a table grape, fresh or dried ( raisin, currant, sultana). For a complete list of all grape species including those unimportant to agriculture, see ...
that is grown primarily in
South West France, and is part of the
Manseng family. It produces
dry wines in the
Jurançon and
Béarn
The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three B ...
regions of
Southwest France. In
Gascony
Gascony (; french: Gascogne ; oc, Gasconha ; eu, Gaskoinia) was a province of the southwestern Kingdom of France that succeeded the Duchy of Gascony (602–1453). From the 17th century until the French Revolution (1789–1799), it was part ...
it is permitted in the
Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh ''
Appellation d'origine contrôlée
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication primarily used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown, although other types of food often have appellations as well. Restrictions other than geographical bo ...
'' (AOC), in the
Côtes de Gascogne and in the
Floc de Gascogne.
Comparison to Petit Manseng
While the grape vines of Gros Manseng and
Petit Manseng look very similar to each other, there are distinct differences. Gros Manseng's berries are larger and less susceptible to
coulure. The vine also produces much higher
yields but the resulting wine is less elegant and rich than wine made from
Petit Manseng.
[J. Robinson (ed) ''"The Oxford Companion to Wine"'' Third Edition pg 334 Oxford University Press 2006 ]
Wine styles
On its own, Gros Manseng has the potential to produce intensely flavored wines with high
acidity
In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a ...
,
apricot
An apricot (, ) is a fruit, or the tree that bears the fruit, of several species in the genus '' Prunus''.
Usually, an apricot is from the species '' P. armeniaca'', but the fruits of the other species in ''Prunus'' sect. ''Armeniaca'' are al ...
and
quince
The quince (; ''Cydonia oblonga'') is the sole member of the genus ''Cydonia'' in the Malinae subtribe (which also contains apples and pears, among other fruits) of the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree that bears hard, aromatic bright ...
fruit along with
spicy and
floral notes. The time of
harvest
Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper. On smaller farms with minimal mechanization, harvesting is the most l ...
will play a large role in the type of wine that the grape will produce. When it is picked at a potential
alcohol level of 11.5-12%, the resulting wine will have more characteristics of fresh fruit and flowers. If picked later at a potential alcohol content of 12.5-13.5, the flavors will be much more intense and powerful. Despite its thick skin, the grape does need gentle handling in the
winemaking
Winemaking or vinification is the production of wine, starting with the selection of the fruit, its fermentation into alcohol, and the bottling of the finished liquid. The history of wine-making stretches over millennia. The science of wine and ...
process. Unlike many wine grapes, the juice of the Gros Manseng is ''grey'' in color which means that it is already prone to produce deeply, golden colored wines with minimal
skin contact. If the grapes are
pressed too roughly or the grapes are left in extended contact with the skins, the resulting wine will be very coarse with excessive levels of
tannin
Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.
The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...
s and
polyphenol
Polyphenols () are a large family of naturally occurring organic compounds characterized by multiples of phenol units. They are abundant in plants and structurally diverse. Polyphenols include flavonoids, tannic acid, and ellagitannin, some ...
s. Some winemakers are experimenting with making
botrytized wine aged in
oak that have drawn favorable comparisons to similarly made wine from
Sémillon
Sémillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, mostly in France and Australia. Its thin skin and susceptibility to botrytis make it dominate the sweet wine region Sauternes AOC and Barsac AOC.
History
The Sémil ...
. That style wine is prized for its
food matching ability, particularly with
foie gras.
[Oz Clarke ''Encyclopedia of Grapes'' pg 113 Harcourt Books 2001 ] In May 2020,
CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency responsible for scientific research.
CSIRO works with leading organisations around the world. From its headquarters in Canberra, CSIRO ...
scientists discovered through DNA analysis that Australia's plantings of Petit Manseng are in fact Gros Manseng.
Synonyms
Gros Manseng is also known under the synonyms Gros Mansenc Blanc, Gros Manseng Blanc, Ichiriota Zuria Handia, Ichiriota Zuriahandla, Manseng Gros Blanc, Petit-Mansenc.
[Manseng Gros Blanc](_blank)
, Vitis International Variety Catalogue
The Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC) is a database of various species and varieties/ cultivars of grapevine, the genus ''Vitis''. VIVC is administered by the Geilweilerhof Institute for Grape Breeding (''Institut für Rebenzüchtung ...
, accessed 2010-12-03
References
{{reflist
White wine grape varieties