White wine grape variety producing the highest quality wine of any grape in the Manseng family. Small, thick-skinned berries, can be left on the vine until December to produce a dessert wine. Growing in popularity in the Americas.
Petit Manseng is revered for its ability to produce a wide range of wine styles, from dry and crisp to intensely sweet and complex. Its ability to retain acidity even in ripe grapes makes it particularly well-suited for sweet wine production. It has gained recognition and acclaim for the dessert wines it produces, which are prized for their aromatic intensity and balanced sweetness. Grown primarily in the southwest of France, particularly in the regions of Jurançon and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh, where it is known for producing highly aromatic and sweet wines. Well known for its intense aromatics which can include notes of tropical fruits like pineapple, mango, and passion fruit, one may also appreciate floral hints, such as acacia and honeysuckle. Flavor-wise, the wines made from Petit Manseng can vary widely in style, from bone-dry to lusciously sweet. In the sweet styles, you'll find rich flavors of ripe fruits, honey, and sometimes spice. The high acidity balances the sweetness, preventing the wine from being cloying. Petit Manseng is often used to make late-harvest wines and botrytized wines (wines affected by noble rot), which are known for their exceptional sweetness and complexity. These wines can rival some of the best dessert wines in the world. Pair sweet Petit Manseng wines with a variety of desserts, especially those with fruit components or creamy textures. They can also be enjoyed on their own as a dessert. Dry and off-dry styles of Petit Manseng can be paired with seafood, poultry, and dishes with cream-based sauces.  High-quality sweet Petit Manseng wines have significant aging potential and can improve over many years, developing additional complexity and depth.