Appellation for white wine in the region of south-west France, identical to the Madiran appellation (red wine). In the past, white wine and red wine were produced under the joint AOC Vic-Bilh. The Gascon dialect name derives from the vine training "Piquets-en-rangs" (stakes in rows), in which the vines are raised on high stakes. Vic-Bilh" (Vieux Pays = Old Country) is the name given to the local hills. The name thus means "stakes in a row from the Vic-Bilh hills". The vineyards cover 300 hectares of vines in the departments of Gers (3 communes), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (28) and Hautes-Pyrénées (6). There is an oceanic climate with hot summers, dry sunny autumns and relatively mild winters. The deep yellow, long-lasting white wine with aromas of candied fruit and honey is blended from the autochthonous main varieties Courbu Blanc, Petit Courbu, Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng (at least 60%, max. 80% per variety), as well as Ruffiat (Arrufiac) and max. 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Two thirds of it is produced moelleux (semi-sweet to sweet) and one third sec (dry) (for the dry version, the AOC designation Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh sec applies).
Well-known producers are Château d'Aydie, Château Barrejat, Château Laffitte-Teston, Domaine Berthoumieu, Château Montus (Brumont), Domaine Capmartin, Domaine Damiens, Domaine de Diusse, Domaine du Crampilh, Domaine Frédéric Laplace, Domaine Sergent and Domaine Tailleurguet. The "Plaimont Producteurs" community monitors parcels of old vines under "Conservatoire ampélographique" - including in the Madiran or Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh area. See also under the municipality of Sarragachies (Gers department), where there is a very special vineyard.
