The Languedoc region is a major French wine producer and comprises more than a third of the vineyard area of the entire country.
You can get much more for your money from Languedoc wines than many others of similar quality, as this region produces a large part of France’s table wines or vins de tables , and most of the country wines or vin de pays de France. It is an ideal destination for touring the French wine region, visiting vineyards for tastings or simply enjoying a drink in a bar or on the terrace of a sidewalk cafe.
With a rented car or a group of tourists, it is simple to take a tour of the Languedoc wine country. The best method is to select one or two of the many regional wine territories and drive through that area. You cannot miss the vineyards. Grape vines dot the landscape throughout this region.
On an interesting note, Limoux claims to have been the actual place where sparkling wine was invented, and locals say the famous Dom Perignon passed through the village on his way to Champagne and simply stole the idea. To this day, visitors can taste the wonderful sparkling wine from Limoux, called Blanquette.
The French government regulates the designation of exceptional wines as a ‘controlled appellation of origin’, or registered appellation of origin, with requirements regarding cultivation methods, yields and various other regulations. Officials conduct taste tests to make sure these wines are of high quality.
Languedoc has ten “AOC” territories, and the ” Vin AOC Languedoc ” office describes them as follows:
Corbières Wine Territory
This is produced in Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan and Quillan, with young wines that have flavors of blackcurrant or blackberry. Ninety-four percent of these wines are red. The more mature wines have notes of spices, pepper, licorice and thyme.
The reds are powerful, with aromas of old leather, coffee, cocoa and game. The Garnacha, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cariñena and Cinsault grape varieties are used for red and rosé wines. Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Maccabeu, Marsanne and Roussanne are used for white wines.
Vino Côteaux du Languedoc
This is home to the oldest vineyards in France, stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Narbonne in the west to the Camargue in the east and up to the foothills of the Montagne Noire and Cévennes.
The red wines are velvety and elegant, with notes of raspberry, black currant, spices and pepper. Once aged, the wines develop notes of leather, bay leaf and aromas of the garrigue (cade, juniper, thyme and rosemary). Grape varieties include Garnacha, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.
However, the Côteaux de Languedoc will be phased out in 2017
Minervois wines
These wines are produced in an area bounded by the Canal du Midi in the south and the Montagne Noire in the north, which stretches from Narbonne to Carcassonne.
The young wines are well structured and elegant, with aromas of black currant, violet, cinnamon and vanilla. Once aged, they show characteristics of leather, candied fruit and prunes. They have silky tannins and are full and long on the palate.
The red wines are produced from Syrah, Mourvèdre, Garnacha, Cariñena and Cinsault. The whites are produced from Marsanne, Roussanne, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Garnacha, Vermentino, and small berry Muscat.
San Chiniano wine
Produced north of Béziers, at the foot of the Caroux and Espinouse mountains, these wines use Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault and Lladoner Pelut grapes.
Young Saint Chinian wines have a good structure and notes of balsam, black currant and spices. Older wines develop complex aromas of cocoa, toast and fruit.
Vino Faugères
North of Béziers and Pézenas, this territory produces young wines, well structured but flexible, with mineral notes and aromas of small red fruits, liquorice and spices. These wines are low in acidity and have elegant and refined tannins.
After maturing for 12 months, the silky tannins are enhanced by notes of leather and licorice. Syrah, Garnacha, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault are the grape varieties.
Fitou came
It is grown in nine communes in southern Languedoc: Cuevas, Fitou, Lapalme, Leucate, Treilles, Cascatel, Paziols, Tuchan and Villeneuve. Exclusively a red wine that produces AOC, these are robust wines with complex and rich aromas of blackberry, raspberry, pepper, prune, toasted almonds and leather.
Vino Clairette from Languedoc
This AOC exclusively produces a white wine from the Clairette grape variety. It presents young wines with notes of passion fruit, guava and mango, and mature wines with hints of walnut and jam. Sweet wines have dominant flavors of honey and peach.
Vino Limoux
Just south of Carcassonne, this territory produces sparkling wines. The sparkling wines “Méthode Ancestrale Blanquette” have southern bouquets of apricot, acacia, hawthorn, apple and peach blossom. Limoux white wines have a delicate vanilla note and are fresh and structured wines.
Cabardès wine
With six rivers that irrigate its slopes, this wine-growing territory goes back to the Montagne Noire and dominates the city of Carcassonne. The careful blending of the two main families of grape varieties gives well balanced and complex wines, with the red fruit, the refinement and vivacity of the Atlantic varieties and the richness, fullness and intense smoothness of the Mediterranean varieties.
Malapere wine
Bounded to the north by the Canal du Midi and to the east by the River Aude in a triangle between Carcassonne, Limoux and Castelnaudary, this AOC produces young wines with aromas of red fruits, strawberries, cherries and sometimes black currant. Older wines have notes of toast and candied fruits, plums and figs.
