Type of Wine: Medium-bodied wine with high levels of acidity and low tannins.

Origin: Petit Manseng is a rare grape that finds its home in the Southwestern portions of France, and to a lesser extent, the island of Corsica. Petit Manseng is a white grape variation of Manseng and produces the highest quality wine of any grape in the Manseng family. The name is derived from its small, thick-skinned berries. Despite its thick skin, the grape does need gentle handling in the winemaking process. The grape is renowned for aromatic and floral wines.

Color: The grape yields a beautiful golden straw color and ferments in stainless steel vats for fermentation and aging.

Description: Petit Manseng has the potential to produce intensely flavored wines with high acidity, apricot and quince fruit along with spicy and floral notes. The time of harvest 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 delicate 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.

Aging: Wines made from Petit Manseng are meant to be enjoyed within a year of their release.

Best Location: Sunny and warm climates with cool nights are optimal for the grapes. Equally important are low-fertility, rocky soil sites, though the grape has wonderful disease resistance and can thrive in diverse environments.

Planting: The grapes were planted with northern and eastern exposures. These aspects provide the benefit of a cool down period from the intense summer heat. These cooler temperatures allow for the “grapes to rest” and not deplete the vines of their acids and flavor compounds through avoiding over-respiration. The grape has a tendency to ripen very late with harvests as late as November. Low yields are essential for excellent wine.

Food Pairings: Petit Manseng pairs with a wide variety of strong and hard cheeses and also as a standalone dessert wine.

See our general thoughts on food and wine pairings  

back