Barsac, Gironde

Barsac (French pronunciation: [baʁsak]; Gascon: Barçac) is a commune on the left bank of the Garonne river in the Gironde department in southwestern France.

Barsac
Commune
Town hall
Coat of arms
Location of Barsac
Barsac Show map of France Barsac Show map of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Coordinates: 44°36′37″N 0°18′47″W
Country	France
Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Department	Gironde
Arrondissement	Langon
Canton	Les Landes des Graves
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Dominique Cavaillols[1]
Area 1	14.48 km2 (5.59 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	2,061
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	33030 /33720
Elevation	3–21 m (9.8–68.9 ft) (avg. 8 m or 26 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

Barsac is located 37 km upstream the Garonne river of Bordeaux. Barsac station has rail connections to Langon and Bordeaux.

Population

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	2,298	—
1975	2,019	−1.83%
1982	2,085	+0.46%
1990	2,058	−0.16%
1999	1,948	−0.61%
2007	1,962	+0.09%
2012	2,106	+1.43%
2017	2,063	−0.41%
Source: INSEE[3]

Wine

The town gives its name to a wine making appellation, Barsac AOC, that produces sweet white wines.

The town and its vineyards are separated from the area of Sauternes to the south by the Ciron river, whose cooling effect is of key importance in encouraging the annual action of the Botrytis fungus on the Sémillon grapes. The area is marginally flatter than its neighbour and its wines are considered to be marginally lighter. The area is however permitted to use the Sauternes appellation.

Producers from the area include the First Growths Château Climens, and Château Coutet.

Personalities

• Venerable Marie-Thérèse de Lamourous (1754 – 1836), a French Lay-woman, member of the underground Church during the French Revolution, and foundress of the Sister of the Miséricorde of Bordeaux.

See also

• Communes of the Gironde département
• Bordeaux wine regions