Producer · South West France, France

Domaine Cauhapé

In 1970 Henri Ramonteu took charge of the family cattle farm in Monein, in Jurançon. He sold the cattle, bought four hectares of vines and started Domaine Cauhapé. He paints the labels too.

Sweet wines came first, in 1980, as is the local way, and dry wines followed in 1984. Today there are 54 hectares, farmed sustainably on slopes at 450 metres in the Pyrenees foothills. The clay soils hold water, so the vines keep going through hot, dry summers.

He grows Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng and Courbu, plus rare local grapes like Lauzet and Camaralet. Expect fresh dry whites and sweet wines from Petit Manseng, rich but kept lively by the grape's high acidity.

Winery at Monein, South West France · Gros Manseng, Lauzet and Camaralet · £15.49 to £18.99 a bottle