Roussillon Wines: A Balance of Sun and Freshness

Diary #5 by Elise Gaillard, winemaker at Domaine Madeloc: The Roussillon is known for being a region that enjoys sunshine almost all year round. However, this climate, which attracts tourists, is a cause for concern among wine lovers.

Roussillon: where sunshine meets fresh, well-balanced wines

They say there are over 300 days of sunshine a year in Roussillon! That would be a dream come true for someone from Brittany, wouldn’t it?! Add to that the daily wind, which not only blows the clouds away but also dries out the soil and crops. Consumers imagine heavy, powerful wines but are often surprised by the freshness of our white wines and the balance of our reds.

In my opinion, there are several reasons that explain the freshness and balance of our wines despite the blazing sun we have:

First, there are technical reasons: oenology, which has provided us with the tools to preserve the natural acidity in our wines (often by skipping the second fermentation, known as “malolactic fermentation,” which reduces acidity), and viticulture, which has allowed us to balance our vineyards and thus the ripeness of our grapes (soil amendment, plowing, etc.)

But above all, there are natural reasons: first and foremost, the choice of our grape varieties. I’m a huge fan of Syrah, thanks to my Rhône roots, and I’ve tried to make them as beautiful as they are in Côte Rôtie. Unfortunately, this variety isn’t the best suited to this terroir. Here, Grenache reigns supreme. White, gray, or black, it’s found everywhere. It’s a grape variety of great finesse (it’s often compared to a southern Pinot Noir!), with plenty of elegance and excellent aging potential. I also really love Carignan (both white and black), which brings freshness to the blends.

Next, there is a wide variety of soils: schist, gneiss, granite, and limestone. Naturally, I have a preference for schist, which is the rock found in the terroirs across all our estates. It is an exceptional terroir that brings freshness to the wines, as the vines can penetrate deeply into the rock’s fissures (or schistosity) and draw from the minute reserves of water lodged deep within the clay layers. In our climate, limestone also brings a great deal of balance to the wines. Finally, the elevation ranges from 0 meters to over 450 meters, which adds even more complexity to our wines.

So, yes, Roussillon is sunny, and the wines can be quite high in alcohol, but the terroir, the grape varieties, and the expertise of each winemaker in managing this ripeness result in balanced, refined, and elegant wines. (And yes, I love Roussillon!)

Elise Gaillard (winemaker at Domaine Madeloc)