Languedoc Tour Seminar
Presented by Erik Segelbaum, Advanced Sommelier
@Erik4Wine
Welcome
to
Languedoc!
3 1
Between the warm sun of the Mediterranean Sea and cooling Atlantic winds, you’ll find Languedoc, a region characterized by a diversity of terroir, a wide array of wines and a southern French character that stands apart. Nature defines us, delivering more than 300 days of sunshine each year to nurture the independent spirit of our growers, winemakers and négociants. Together, we cultivate the most organic vines in Guided by instinct and techniques honed by centuries of history, our 3,000 offer a rich variety of wine, from the red blends of Corbières, to charming rosé, white Picpoul and sparkling Limoux. 2 1 Coastal Terroir Atlantic Corridor Hills & Mountains 2 3
LANGUEDOC: BY THE NUMBERS
2,500 years of winegrowing history
80,000+ acres of vines
20 AOPs
A leading producer in organic wines
bottles produced per year
3 colors (red, white and rosé) + sparkling & sweet wines
U.S #1 export market by volume/value
main grape varieties
A LEADER IN ORGANIC WINES
30% of France’s organic vineyards are in Languedoc
10% of organic acreage worldwide is in Languedoc
30% of acreage currently being converted
Sustainability In Action
MANIFESTO
Non-invasive treatments
Organic insect repellants
Protecting & planting hedges
Collecting rainwater
Protecting animal habitats
Focus on biodiversity
…and much more!
All Languedoc appellations share ongoing reports on sustainability and have ambitious objectives for organic or other sustainable certifications.
LANGUEDOC: A HISTORY
The father of resistant grape varieties began his research at L’ INRA in
1st
Languedoc launched the world’s first all organic expo, still going strong today.
1709 1285 1544 1st Century BC Discovery of fortifying wines by Arnaud de Villeneuve Bubbles! LA BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX The first sparkling wine was made in Languedoc Planting of hillside vineyards
OF INNOVATION The Roman Era 1970 1993 Looking Ahead GRAFTING developed by Jules-Emile Planchon helped overcome the phylloxera crisis of 1868 1873 ALAIN BOUQUET
Montpellier
Millesime Bio
Get to know Languedoc, the new French wine scene.
LANGUEDOC: TASTING GUIDE
TOP VARIETIES
REDS
60% of all production
Syrah
Grenache
Mourvèdre
Carignan
Cinsault
20% of all production
Chardonnay
Roussanne
20% of all production
Marsanne WHITES
Counoise
Piquepoul Noir
Terret Noir
SPARKLING
861,000
9L cases/year
SWEET
43,000
9L cases/Year
(Muscats de Lunel and Mireval)
Viognier Chenin Mauzac
Mauzac (Blanquette)
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Pinot Noir
Piquepoul
Bourboulenc
Clairette
Grenache Blanc/Gris
Muscat Blanc
ROSÉ
%
CLIMATE DEFINES OUR TERROIR
KEY ASPECTS
Garrigue limestone soils with low-lying scrub, herbal vegetation
Aromatic plants thyme, rosemary, spike lavender, juniper, boxwood, holm oak
Maquis type of vegetation thrives in acidic siliceous soils— i.e. schist, sage, bay, lavender, heather, arbutus
320 days of sunshine per year
1 2
Coastal Terroir Atlantic Corridor Hills & Mountains 1 2 3
3
ZONE 1: COASTAL TERROIR
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Many indigenous grapes such as Piquepoul, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Muscat
Long, warm summers with abundant sunshine and mild, wet winters
Sedimentary soils, limestone, mineral-rich clay and sandstone
Rich red blends and unique whites that benefit from fully ripened grapes and healthy vine-to-water balance
1
MediterraneanSea
City of Montpellier
Picpoul de Pinet vineyards
Mediterranean coastline
Boutenac vineyards
SANDSTONE soils
Grès de Montpellier
CLAY: Red volcanic soils in Cabardès
LIMESTONE soils in La Clape
ZONE 2: ATLANTIC CORRIDOR
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mauzac, Malbec/Côt, Chenin, Chardonnay)
Cool, moist climate shaped by two winds — the crisp, dry Atlantic wind from the west and the warm Mediterranean wind from the east Rocky soil (sandstone and limestone) creates a distinct terroir
TOWARDSTHEATLANTIC
Distinguished reds, lush whites, and bright sparkling wines made from a wide range of grape varieties and blends
MediterraneanSea
2
SANDSTONE
Vineyards
soils in Limoux
Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire in Limoux
City of Carcassonne
of Limoux Mountainous, Atlantic influences
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah are a few of the major varieties found in this zone
Dry, hot climate in the summer and cold in the winter; warm days and cool nights
Ruffe (red sandstone), Jurassic limestone, basalt terraces and schist
Higher elevations and volcanic subsoils create rich red wines with tannic intensity and refreshing rosés
3 ZONE 3: HILLS & MOUNTAINS
MediterraneanSea
SCHIST soils in Faugères, Saint-Chinian
CLAY: Red volcanic soils in Terrases du Larzac
Saint-Chinian
Château d'Aguilar in Tuchan, Corbières
LIMESTONE soils in Corbières, Minervois-la-Livinière, Pic Saint Loup
Pic Saint-Loup
Faugères
City of Béziers
SOME OF THE BEST VALUE IN FRANCE TODAY!
Sunny, warm & welcoming
Strong Mediterranean influence
Fresh reds to try with a little chill
26+ grape varieties, including heirlooms
FRESH MED REDS
SURPRISING SPARKLING WINES
Origin of world sparkling wine
Quality wines with great versatility: There’s a Languedoc wine for every occasion.
A leader in organic and sustainable
BOLD RED BLENDS
VIBRANT ROSÉS AND WHITES
REACH OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION!
CONTACT
Contacts in the US:
Helen Gregory – helen@gregoryvine.com
Katie Keith – katie@gregoryvine.com
Claire Martin – claire@gregoryvine.com
Contact in France:
Estelle Nijhof – enijhof@languedoc-wines.com
@LanguedocWines
