Description:

A bit of history

 

Introduced by the Greeks,the history of wine growing in the Languedoc-Roussillon goes back to the 5^th century BC,which means that besides the largest,its also the oldest wine growing region in France.

In the mid 20^th century, the Languedoc provided daily wine rations to soldiers ,and miners in the north,which gave it its reputation of a mass-producer of cheap table wines.

Since the late 80’s,this changed radically when the most of the Languedoc's wine industry made significant investments and increased focus on quality,rather than quantity,with as a result,a far better reputation,especially since the late 90’s,when many vineyards adopted the AOC-label,a guaranty for quality and origin.

 

Geography and Climate

 

Having the benefits of an ideal climate and a huge soil variety,the Languedoc-Rousillon became the largest wine producing area in the world,covering 2800 km2,it stretches about 240 km from north to south,crossing the four Mediterranean departments(Landlocked high altitude Lozère does not have a wine growing industry)from Banyuls near the Spanish border all along the coast until the River Rhone and neighbouring Provence.

Thanks to this climate,the Languedoc is home to a vast amount of grape varieties,offerind anything form table wine,also known as vin de pays d’oc,to some excellent AOC wines,including red, rosé and white wines ,as well as aperitif wines(e.g Muscat)and the sparkling Blanquette de Limoux,made according  to the same method as champagne.

 

Grape varieties

 

The most prominent grape varieties include well-known internationals like Merlot,Cabernet-Sauvignon or chardonnay,others include Mourvèdre,Grenache,Syrah and Viognier.

The Mauzac is the principal grape,used in the Blanquette de Limoux.

Cinsault is generally used in rosé production.

Some AOC vineyards avoid blending,and go for single varietal wines,in order to retain market share by a growing number of consumers of new world wines.

 

In general,Languedoc wines can be categorised in

• Vins de pays:basic wines produced under more flexible regulations e.g vin pays d’oc,vins pays d’aude etc...
• Vin doux naturels:naturally sweet wines ,fortified with brandy and residual sugar ,left to sweeten,examples include the white Muscat or the red Banyuls.
• Crémant de Limoux :is made according traditional methods,the same as champagne ,and excusively around the Limoux area.
• The AOC guaranteed wines,see list below

 

List of Appelations AOC

 

• Gard  30
  

• Clairette de Bellegarde
• Costières de Nîmes

 

• Hérault  34
  
• Coteaux du Languedoc - Red wine, White wine, Rosé
• Coteaux du Languedoc Pic Saint Loup
• Faugères - Red wine
• Muscat de Frontignan - White wine
• Muscat de Lunel
• Muscat de Mireval
• Saint-Chinian - Red, White and Rosé wines
• Roquebrun - Red wines
• Berlou - Red wines
• Muscat de St-Jean Minervois
• Clairette de Languedoc

 

• Aude  11
  

• Cabardès - Red wine, Rosé wine
• Côtes de Malepère - Red wine
• Corbières - Red wine
• Coteaux du Languedoc
• Fitou - Red wine
• Limoux AOC - White wine, Sparkling wine
• La Clape
• Minervois - Red wine
• Minervois La Liviniere - Red wine

 

• Pyrenees-Orientales  66
  

• Banyuls Grand Cru - Red wine,
• Banyuls - Red wine,
• Collioure - Red wine
• Côtes du Roussillon
• Côtes du Roussillon-Villages - Red wine
• Maury - White wine, Red wine
• Rivesaltes - White wine, Red wine
• Muscat de Rivesaltes - White wine

 

For more about wine tasting,please check our business directory.

To find out more on Languedoc wines,please click here.




Languedoc wine map  by wikimedia commons.