Welcome to Languedoc!
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.
LANGUEDOC FRANCE
People
Heritage
WHAT WE VALUE Our
Our
Our Enterprising Spirit
Our Wines
Our Nature
LANGUEDOC: BY THE NUMBERS
2,500 years of winegrowing history
20 AOPs
90,000+ acres of vines
140 million bottles produced per year
A leading producer in organic wines
U.S #1 export market by volume/value
3 colors
(red, white and rosé) + sparkling & sweet wines
59%
21%
20%
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.
A LEADER IN ORGANIC WINES
9 of Languedoc’s 20 AOPs are under 20 years old. We’re always open to new ideas. Inspired by nature, today’s Languedoc is a leading region of organic vineyards, more than any other region in France.
Sustainability In Action
MANIFESTO
Non-invasive treatments
29% of France’s organic vineyards are in Languedoc
10% of organic acreage worldwide is in Languedoc
27% of acreage currently being converted
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 and HVE certification.
THE LANGUEDOC APPELLATION SYSTEM
Languedoc wines are grouped in 5 classifications for AOP wines that capture the range of styles and terroir in our region.
AOP LANGUEDOC
Languedoc Pézenas
Languedoc Quatourze
Languedoc Grés de Montpellier
Languedoc Saint Christol
Languedoc Montpeyroux
Languedoc La Méjanelle
Languedoc Saint Drézéry
Languedoc Saint Georges D’Orques
Languedoc Saint Saturnin
Languedoc Sommières
Languedoc Cabrières
THE SUB-REGIONAL AOPS
Corbières
Saint Chinian
-Saint Chinian Roquebrun
THE VILLAGE-DESIGNATED AOPS
La Clape
Fitou
Minervois la Livinière
Corbières Boutenac
Faugères
THE SWEET WINE AOPS
Muscat de Lunel
Muscat de Mireval
THE
WINESPARKLING AOPs THESWEETWINEAOPs
-Saint Chinian Berlou
Malepère
Clairette Du Languedoc
Limoux
Pic Saint-Loup
Picpoul de Pinet
Cabardès
Terrasses du Larzac
THE SPARKLING WINE AOPS
Crémant de Limoux
Limoux Blanquette de Limoux
Limoux Méthode Ancestrale
SUBREGIONALAOPS
AOP LANGUEDOC
THE AOPsDESIGNATEDVILLAGE AOP’s
AOP LANGUEDOC
THE REGIONAL APPELLATION
The AOP Languedoc appellation encompasses a large part of the Languedoc wine region, forming a common core for its myriad and diverse vineyard sites.
FOUNDED IN 2007
(successor to Coteaux du Languedoc)
SOILS: Limestone Schist River gravel
The geographical scope of AOP Languedoc is vast, stretching from Nîmes to the Spanish border. It is bordered to the East by the Mediterranean Sea and in the West by the foothills of the Cévennes and the Montagne Noire.
450 Wineries
CLIMATE: Warm Mediterranean sun and crisp mountainous air
80
Co-ops
COLORS
25,000
Reds, Whites & Rosés
RED:
Main: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
Secondary: Carignan, Cinsault
WHITE: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul
Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Rolle, Viognier
A THREE-TIER SYSTEM
Over the past few years, the Languedoc wine authorities have prioritized the establishment of a three-tier hierarchy: the regional Languedoc appellation; the sub-regional appellations; and the sub-regional appellations to which vineyard site names are appended. The aim of this structured pyramid is to highlight specific site and terroir distinction.
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
Mediterranean Atlantic Hills & Mountains 1 2 3
3
ZONE 1: MEDITERRANEAN
(The Coastal Plains)
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 (The
West)
TOWARDSTHEATLANTIC
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
Distinguished, rich red wines with blends from different grape varieties + sparkling Limoux wines
MediterraneanSea
City of Carcassonne
Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire in Blanquette de Limoux
Vineyards of Limoux Mountainous, Atlantic influences
SANDSTONE soils in Limoux
ZONE 3: HILLS & MOUNTAINS (The North)
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah create rich reds with tannic intensity
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 lend minerality and depth
3
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
Saint-Corbières
City of Béziers
LANGUEDOC: STILL WINE STYLES - TASTING GUIDE
WHITES
TOP VARIETIES
STYLES TO LOOK FOR
Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM): powerful blends capable of long aging, often sourced from older vines
Syrah
Grenache
Mourvèdre
Carignan
Cinsault
Counoise
Piquepoul Noir
Terret Noir
Les Rouges-Bleus: deeply colored reds with blue tones, violet-purple hues and profound flavor
Ruby-Reds: including medium-bodied Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan
A range of rosé styles: lighter-hued rosés include Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan; Syrah and Mourvèdre deliver more depth. Younger vines for fresher styles: with growing demand, young vine plantings support fresh, consumer style preferences
Chardonnay
Roussanne
Marsanne
Viognier
Chenin
Mauzac
Piquepoul
Bourboulenc
Clairette
Grenache
Blanc/Gris
Heritage varieties: Languedoc has a longstanding tradition in white wines, including many local varieties such as Piquepoul
Terroir-driven AOP rosés: AOP Languedoc, AOP Corbières, Saint-Chinian, Faugères and Cabrières reflect local soil and terroir specificity. 40% of AOP Cabrières is dedicated to rosé production. 21%
AOP Picpoul de Pinet: 100% dedicated to Piquepoul
AOP Clape: requires a minimum of 40% Bourboulenc, a late-ripening, rich and complex local white variety
20% of all production
production
of all
ROSÉ
of
production
59%
all
%
LANGUEDOC: WINE STYLES - TASTING GUIDE
TOP VARIETIES
STYLES TO LOOK FOR
SWEET
861,000 9L cases/ year
Mauzac (Blanquette)
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Pinot Noir
There are 3 sparkling wine appellations, all in Limoux: Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant de Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale.
Blanquette de Limoux is made from a minimum of 90% of the local white grape Mauzac (Chardonnay and Chenin are also allowed), vinified in the méthode traditionelle. Look for fresh apple and white flower notes. Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale (100% Mauzac) is an artisanal, naturally low-alcohol wine made without disgorgement for a gentle fizzy style.
Crémant de Limoux is based on Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir (less than 10% by law) and Mauzac, allowing producers to explore a spectrum of flavor profiles made by the méthode traditionelle (including a small amount of sparkling rosé). Wines must age a minimum of one year on the lees prior to disgorgement.
43,000
9L cases/ Year (Muscats de Lunel and Mireval)
Muscat Blanc
Key sweet wine appellations include Muscat de Lunel and Muscat de Mireval. Known as Vin Doux Naturel, the wines are fortified with a neutral grape spirit to stop the yeast before fermentation is complete. The sugars left behind result in a pleasant sweetness on the palate. Vin doux in Languedoc are made from the Muscat Blanc grape and range from 15% to 18% alcohol by volume.
%
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
