All about Languedoc wines

Updated on December 14, 2022

A little history

The wines of LanguedocSyrah wines have long been in the shadow of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhône wines. Before the revolution that took place some thirty years ago, Languedoc wine production was focused on wines rich in alcohol and without taste interest. It is thanks to a movement of winemakers and their perseverance that the Languedoc terroirs now offer great wines.

It is obvious that the Languedoc vineyard benefits from an incomparable know-how, notably thanks to the great diversity of its terroirs and the marriage that is made between the different climates of the region. The Languedoc is best known for its ripe and intense red wines, such asSaint-ChinianCorbières and Faugères, but there are also crisp white wines made from Picpoul (such as Picpoul de Pinet), sparkling wines from the Limoux region, and a growing number of dessert wines.

The wines of the Languedoc reflect the personality of the region perfectly, generous, well-balanced and with a wide range of aromas. Savor them quietly and spread good cheer as you sit back and enjoy your view from the Pic Saint-Loup!

The Languedoc appellations

With twenty-three different appellations (Aude, Corbières, Fitou, Limoux, Muscat, Vins de France...), the wines of the AOC Languedoc are not alike. There are three types of appellations; regional, sub-regional, and communal.

The regional appellation of Languedoc is the AOC Languedoc formerly known as Coteaux du Languedoc. Red, rosé and white wines are produced under this appellation.

The sub-regional appellations of the Languedoc are divided into AOC Malpère, Limoux, Cabardès, Minervois-La Livinière, Costières de Nîmes, Crémant de Limoux, Saint-Chinian, Clairette du Languedoc, Corbières, Corbières-Boutenac, Fitou, Minervois, andFaugères.

The communal appellations are natural sweet white wines with four AOC Muscats but there is also a communal dry white wine appellation, Clairette de Bellegarde.

The different grape varieties of the Languedoc

In the wines of the Languedoc we find many grape varieties. Several grape varieties are blended to produce wines with unique aromas and immense quality. The grape varieties are influenced by the different climates present in the region. The Mediterranean, oceanic and Pyrenean influence allows the use of both northern and southern grape varieties that are more or less late.

They all have one thing in common: the aromas of the garrigue and their sunny notes. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Picpoul, Muscat, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cinsault, Carignan, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Syrah are the star grape varieties of the Languedoc, offering our taste buds structured and full-bodied wines:

Grenache: it allows the elaboration of natural sweet wines, great wines for ageing but also dry white wines with a beautiful length in mouth.
Mourvèdre: this grape variety is implanted in the South of France and gives high quality, full-bodied and colored wines.
Picpoul: originating from the South of France, this grape variety is used to produce dry white wines that are typical and pleasant.
Muscat: this is a very aromatic grape variety that allows us to produce wines with a good balance between sugar and acidity.
Cabernet-Sauvignon: this variety produces very colorful wines that can be kept for a long time. It is one of the greatest French grape varieties.
Cinsault: it has a low yield and produces supple and fruity wines. It is used to make excellent rosés.
Carignan: planted throughout the Mediterranean, this variety produces powerful, colorful and sometimes slightly bitter wines. It is regularly associated with Grenache and Cinsault which are finer grape varieties.
Bourboulenc: this variety originates from the Provence region, it allows the production of low alcohol and very fine wines.
Clairette: this variety is mainly used to produce sweet wines but dry white wines and rancios are also produced. It allows the production of powerful sweet wines, with aromas of pear, peach and honey.
Syrah: it gives powerful, aromatic wines, with an intense color and low acidity.