Languedoc-Roussillon

With a surface area of more than 240,000 ha of vineyards, Languedoc-Roussillon is the largest wine-producing region in France. Most of the vines are in the Languedoc and Roussillon represents "only" 7,000 ha of this total. Contrasting geologically and climatically, this vineyard is also contrasted in terms of quality. Its circular shape, from Nîmes to the Etang de Leucate, follows the shape of the Gulf of Lion and, in the interior, the vines lean against the foothills of the Cévennes, from the Montagne Noire to the foot of the Pyrenees.19 AOCs straddling three departments (Gard, Hérault, Aude) form the "keystone" of this vast area, which one Languedoc winegrower describes as follows: "While the PGIs account for 75% of production, the regional appellation (which replaced the Coteaux du Languedoc) is the AOC Languedoc. In addition, twelve sectors can add their name to that of the appellation and the most ambitious ones claim the notion of "cru", such as Pézenas, Cabrières, Sommières, Saint-Saturnin, Montpeyroux, Saint-Drézery, La Méjanelle or Saint-Christol. At the same time, there are about fifteen AOCs representing larger entities, including Pic-Saint-Loup, Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Minervois, La Livinière, Fitou, Corbières, Boutenac, La Clape and the Terrasses du Larzac.History and geologyThe hand of man and history are, as everywhere, determining factors. The climate is Mediterranean: hot and dry in summer with autumns and winters marked by heavy rainfall and subject to a regime of prevailing winds that sometimes dry out, sometimes humidify this vast territory (tramontane, also called cers in the Corbières, and the marin). To this basic climatic data must be added the differences in relief, altitude and orientation which, from one valley to another, induce different meso-climates. Geologically, limestone and clay-limestone are dominant, but several types of terroir can be identified, which make up the infinite variety of the Languedoc-Roussillon region:- Schist, associated with siliceous sandstone, which can be found in the following appellations: The schists, associated with siliceous sandstones found in the following appellations: Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Cabrières, Fitou and, of course, Collioure and Banyuls;- The sandstone clays of the Terrasses du Larzac, in the St-Jean de la Blaquière area in particular;- The rolled pebbles and poudingues of the upper and middle alluvial terraces of the Rhône, Hérault and Aude rivers;- The siliceous sandstone pebbles found on the Méjanelle, south of Saint-Georges d'Orques and on the ancient terraces of the Hérault, the Orb and the Catalan rivers;- The basaltic rocks of the area north of Pézenas and near Octon;- The fine fragments of solifluous sandstone in the region of Aniane and, in particular, Daumas Gassac;- The molasses and sandsIn addition to this diversity of terroirs and meso-climates, there is a wide variety of grape varieties. The majority of the production (75%) is oriented towards red wines. Among the most representative red grape varieties currently in production, we find Syrah in first place, followed by Grenache, then Carignan and Merlot. In white wines, Chardonnay has taken over from the more traditional Languedoc varieties, but it is above all on the stylistic level that the change in the great Languedoc wines is taking place; admittedly, this only concerns a tiny part of the production, but it sets the tone. A change in aesthetics: the rather heavy and massive reds that prevailed a short time ago are giving way to wines that are oriented towards freshness, finesse and balance, Daumas Gassac having long since set an example in this direction. Its immediate neighbour, La Grange des Pères, as well as Mas Jullien and Domaine Peyre-Rose, to name but a few, have also made a decisive contribution to shaping the image of the great wines of the Languedoc. A way of reviving a prestigious past, somewhat put on the back burner since... Indeed, the reputation of certain Languedoc wines was such at the end of the 18th century that a certain Thomas Jefferson, oenophile and future president of the United States, during his three-month tour of France, stopped off in the Languedoc, attracted by the fame of certain wines such as that of Saint-Georges-d'Orques or the Muscat de Lunel. Thereafter, the Languedoc vineyards were confined to extensive production, becoming, after the phylloxera crisis, the supplier of almost half of French consumption. It was not until the beginning of the 1980s that the above-mentioned metamorphosis began.