ProducerJurançon
Domaine Cauhapé
ドメーヌ・コアペ
Jurançon's benchmark estate — legendary sweet wines and razor-sharp dry whites from Petit Manseng.
The dominant Jurançon producer making both dry (Jurançon Sec) and sweet wines from Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng, including iconic prestige cuvées like Quintessence du Petit Manseng.
www.jurancon-cauhape.com/ ↗Cuvées
Who Is This For?
For those who want to explore world-class, age-worthy sweet whites with structure and vibrant acidity, and for anyone seeking aromatic, food-friendly dry whites from rare Pyrenean grape varieties.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Domaine Cauhapé best known for?
- Domaine Cauhapé is the reference producer of Jurançon, celebrated for both its world-renowned Petit Manseng sweet wines (Jurançon moelleux) and its elegant, aromatic dry whites such as La Canopée and Chant des Vignes.
- Who founded Domaine Cauhapé and when?
- Henri Ramonteu founded the estate in 1980 on his parents' farmland in Monein, starting with a single hectare and growing it to roughly 50 hectares. He is entirely self-taught, having learned winemaking through reading and visiting other producers rather than formal training.
- Which grape varieties does Domaine Cauhapé grow?
- The estate works mainly with the indigenous Petit Manseng and Gros Manseng varieties, along with rare local grapes such as Camaralet and Petit Courbu, reflecting the unique terroir of the Pyrenean foothills.
- How does Domaine Cauhapé make its sweet wines without noble rot?
- Unlike Sauternes, Cauhapé's sweet wines rely on passerillage: grapes are left on the vine into late October or November, where warm, dry foehn winds from the Pyrenees naturally shrivel and concentrate them, without botrytis.
- What awards has Domaine Cauhapé won?
- The estate has repeatedly won gold and silver medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards, including golds for La Canopée 2020 and Noblesse du Temps 2018 (both 95 points) in 2023, cementing its status as Jurançon's most decorated producer.