Languedoc-Roussillon
Mediterranean
France's vast Mediterranean south: historically bulk wine, now a laboratory for Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre blends.
Overview
About Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon arcs along the Mediterranean coast from the Rhône delta to the Spanish border, and accounts for roughly a third of France's vineyards. For much of the 20th century it was known for cheap, high-volume wine, but a new generation has revived old-vine Carignan and Grenache and made the region a source of value and individuality — in appellations such as Corbières, Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Faugères and Pic Saint-Loup.
Roussillon, in the far south, is also France's home of fortified sweet Vin Doux Naturel, including Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes. The region's IGP, Pays d'Oc, allows varietally labelled wines outside the traditional appellations.
Languedoc-Roussillon is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Aude, Hérault, Gard, Pyrénées-Orientales. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Mediterranean
Hot, dry summers and mild winters, with among the highest sunshine hours in France. Strong winds (the Tramontane and Mistral) keep disease pressure low, but drought and heat are growing concerns.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Enormously diverse: schist (Faugères, and Banyuls' terraces above the sea), limestone garrigue hills (Pic Saint-Loup), clay-limestone and alluvial plains. Much of the character comes from old bush vines rooted in poor soils.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
The Languedoc has a great many appellations, and its most famous wines can be labelled with a specific area or with the broad IGP.
Named appellations
Corbières, Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Pic Saint-Loup and others, each a distinct terroir.
Languedoc AOC
The regional appellation, covering the whole of the Languedoc.
Vins Doux Naturels
Sweet fortified wines of Roussillon, including Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes.
Pays d'Oc IGP
The broadest tier, allowing varietal labelling and a wide range of grapes.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.
Aramon Noir
Once the biggest planting in France's south, now a rare old-vine curiosity.
Carignan
Old bush vines in Corbières, Minervois and Roussillon give concentrated, savoury reds.
Cinsault
Traditionally blended for soft, fruity reds and rosé; a heat-tolerant workhorse variety.
Grenache
Fortified into rich, sweet Vin Doux Naturel dessert wines.
Marselan
Its home, where it makes deep, aromatic reds.
Petit Bouschet
Its home, where it is now rare.