Languedoc Roussillon

This region, which borders the Golfe du Lion, is located in the south of the massif central and in the East of the Pyrénées. It covers several departments : Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude, Hérault, Gard and Lozère.
The climate is Mediterranean and is characterized by mild winters, hot and dry sunny summers, and fierce winds (the mistral and the tramontane).
The soil is varied (Molasses, pebbles, shist, limestone, granite, sand).
The surface area is 168030 acres.

Main grape varieties

White grape varieties

• Grenache blanc (gives a wine with floral aromas).
• Clairette (gives young wines that are easy to enjoy).
• Roussanne (gives a fine, aromatic wine and has a very good aging potential).
• Marsanne (gives a light low-acidity wine).
• Bourboulenc (Hint of bitterness on the palate, often associated to other vineyards).
• Picpoul (gives fine, floral, fruity and alcoholic wines).
• Maccabeo (gives fruity, spicy and alcoholic wines with an intense colour).
• Muscat (this grape variety is used to produce natural sweet wines accompanied by floral and hints of tastes like honey).
• Other white grape varieties (Malvoise, Vermentino, Mauzac, Chenin, Chardonnay) complete the assortment.

Red grape varieties

• Grenache
• Syrah and Cinsault
• Mourvèdre
• Carignan
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon and Ladoner are used in blend.

Languedoc Roussillon appellations

This vineyard appellations are distinguished by PDOs of ordinary still wines (such as Corbières, Collioure, Faugères, Côtes-du-Roussillon, Fitou and others) ; PDOs of sparkling wines (blanquette de Limou PDO and Crément de Limoux) and PDOs of sweet natural wines (such as Muscat de Lunel, Muscat de Rivesaltes or Maury and Banyuls).

White sparkling wines must be consumed within a year, white and rosé wines can be stored for one to four years and red wines can be kept for two to five years. Finally, VDN ***can be stored for ten years.