Wines by Region / Languedoc Roussillon
Languedoc Roussillon
Most people are aware that the Languedoc-Roussillon (as the wine region has somewhat recently come to be called) produces large amounts of wine. But fewer may know that it is actually the single biggest wine-producing region in the world, with a production that in past years regularly topped that of the entire United States. With around 292,000 acres under vines, it is responsible for more than a third of France's total wine production.
This vast territory is located in Southern France, spanning the Mediterranean coastline from the border with Spain (Banyuls on the French side) all the way east to Provence. It shares many geographical and climate characteristics with the Southern Rhone and Provence. Languedoc vineyards are mostly planted along the coastal plains of the Mediterranean (while those in the Roussillon are planted in valleys around the Pyrenees). The summers here are very dry, and the vineyards on the plains can experience extreme heat, which has contributed to the region's ability to produce such large quantities of a certain style of wine, but is of course becoming more challenging in the face of climate change.
This vast territory is located in Southern France, spanning the Mediterranean coastline from the border with Spain (Banyuls on the French side) all the way east to Provence. It shares many geographical and climate characteristics with the Southern Rhone and Provence. Languedoc vineyards are mostly planted along the coastal plains of the Mediterranean (while those in the Roussillon are planted in valleys around the Pyrenees). The summers here are very dry, and the vineyards on the plains can experience extreme heat, which has contributed to the region's ability to produce such large quantities of a certain style of wine, but is of course becoming more challenging in the face of climate change.
Soils vary--from the chalk, limestone and gravel based soils inland to more alluvial soils near the coast. Some of the more special vineyards have large riverbed stones similar to those of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In these conditions, so similar to those of the Southern Rhône, the traditional Rhône grape varietals thrive: Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan for the reds, and Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino, Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Gris, and Macabeo for the whites. But also planted are several international varieties, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Some of the vineyards in the Languedoc (believed to be planted by the ancient Greeks) are considered among the few oldest in all of France. The Languedoc territory has belonged to France since the 13th century while the Roussillon was acquired from Spain in the 17th century--these two regions were joined as one in the 1980's. Early on in its history, the Languedoc was known for very fine wines, but somewhere along the way (around the late-19th century) the region began to focus on producing mass-scale, cheap wine. And to this day the region struggles against this image: France's "wine factory", turning out large quantities of inexpensive and highly accessible (if personality-less) wines for the masses, and dominated by the many giant cooperatives of the region. Plus an unfortunate glut of wine in the region during the economic crisis didn't help matters either...
Lately, though, there has been a renewed push for quality over quantity on the part of some growers and winemakers. This effort has included focusing on specific high-quality vineyard sources and developing their fame, using single native varietals rather than blends, and adopting some of the newer, smaller AOP designations within the region. As anywhere in the wine world, the cream has risen to the top, and a small group of this type of producer has gained worldwide acclaim for their site-specific Languedoc-Roussillon wines.
Within the region, the classifications range from Vin de Pays d'Oc (originally created to allow for blending in of the international grape varieties that became prevalent); to Languedoc AOP (formerly known as the Coteaux du Languedoc); to more specific geographical classifications with restrictions on grape variety and winemaking, like the Corbières, Minervois, Faugères and Saint-Chinian AOPs.
Then even within these AOPs there are several "crus", considered to be of higher quality and with distinguishable wine personalities. These include La Clape, Montpeyroux, Picpoul de Pinet and Pic St.-Loup, and some of these have applied to become AOPs of their own. Also more recently, the INAO, in an effort to improve quality, has changed some existing appellations and created some new, smaller ones to account for the very different terroirs of this vast wine region.
Within the region, the classifications range from Vin de Pays d'Oc (originally created to allow for blending in of the international grape varieties that became prevalent); to Languedoc AOP (formerly known as the Coteaux du Languedoc); to more specific geographical classifications with restrictions on grape variety and winemaking, like the Corbières, Minervois, Faugères and Saint-Chinian AOPs.
Then even within these AOPs there are several "crus", considered to be of higher quality and with distinguishable wine personalities. These include La Clape, Montpeyroux, Picpoul de Pinet and Pic St.-Loup, and some of these have applied to become AOPs of their own. Also more recently, the INAO, in an effort to improve quality, has changed some existing appellations and created some new, smaller ones to account for the very different terroirs of this vast wine region.