Definition: Floc de Gascogne

A liqueur wine produced in the Armagnac AOC. "Lou Floc" means "bouquet of flowers" in Occitan. Two products are available: white and rosé. This mistelle owes its original name to the Gascon dialect "Lou Floc de Nouste", meaning "our bouquet of flowers". The authorised grape varieties are the many varieties grown in the South-West. The must is fortified with a young Armagnac with a minimum alcohol content of 52% vol. The minimum ageing period is nine months. White Floc de Gascogne is a bright straw-yellow liqueur wine that is light, lively and floral. Its red variant has a deep ruby colour and aromas of red berries (blackcurrants, blackberries, strawberries). The producers have agreed that approval will be granted on a year-by-year basis, based on a blind tasting, always taken from the bottle after final bottling. This practice is very rare in France. If the experts consider that certain qualities are lacking, the bottles must be returned to the vat. This is a guarantee of quality and authenticity that meets the demands of new consumers. The aperitif consisting of a mixture of sparkling wine and Floc de Gascogne is called a "pousse-rapière".