Haut-Armagnac, one of the three terroirs (plantation areas) in the Armagnac area where the grapes for the distillation of the Armagnac eau-de-vie can be cultivated. It lies to the south and east of Bas-Armagnac and Armagnac-Ténarèze, the two other areas, and is much the largest of the three. Together the three areas form a single region where Armagnac, Côtes de Gascogne and Floc de Gascogne, which share the same AOC-limits, can be produced. The area is called "white Armagnac" because of the abundance of limestone. It includes the eastern part of the department of Gers and a small part of Lot-et-Garonne. Viticulture was developed here in the 19th century to meet the high market demand. Today the original vineyards still exist but only represent a small amount of the production. Haut-Armagnac includes the towns of Marciac and Lectoure and the capital of Gers, the city of Auch. The vineyards are scattered like islands over the chalky clay hills. References Armagnac