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Conseil Interprofessionnel des vins du Languedoc

A Terroir of Great Appellations

Names that flap in the wind, recalling sunburnt hill slopes, riverbeds and terraces of dry stone, breathing out the sea spray and giving out the smells of the wild garrigues. Men have shaped and tamed this fertile environment to give you to see - and drink - some very handsome land wines. Wines that sound like the prevailing winds, wines with savory, wonderfully local utterances, wines that speak the tongue of Languedoc.

A Land of Great Pasts

Through gusts of flamboyance and riots, the great histories of Languedoc have shaped the Languedoc as we know it today. Greeks, Romans, Benedictines, Cathars, all left their marks to build, layer after layer, a powerful identity: the Civilisation of Languedoc.

A Peculiar Land, with a touch of Spice...

Greatness is in this Languedoc shaped by the history of its men, but also by its light, its winds and the Mediterranean. Here, in fact, the ruins of castles and cathedrals, the rocky outcrops, even the sea foam, mingle with the skies. Here also, the roads wander endlessly, the lands stretch out and bristle in a motion of eternity, the words sing out the rebel spirit high and loud. They sing out the rebel spirit high and loud, in langue d’oc. The grandeur of this tongue gives the Languedoc its identity and originality, extending to the great wines that are its full expression. The land of Languedoc, a land of savour and spice…A note of saffron, a scent of bay leaf, a touch of aniseed, a hint of thyme, a whiff of juniper answer each other from one Appellation to another all throughout the Languedoc vineyard.

A palette of wines with tastes of Languedoc

Reds, Whites, Rosés, bubbly wines, the AOCs of Languedoc come in a variety of colours, and see how they sparkle! Here is a range of wines that outline the languedocian landscapes and highlight the uniqueness of the Languedoc.

CABARDÈS

C'est avec longue vue sur la
Cité de Carcassonne que les
Coteaux de Cabardès cultivent
Cépages méditerranéens et
Cépages atlantiques pour
Composer des vins rares.
Cabardès en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le languedoc.
Red and rosé wines
Received the AOC classification in 1998

Grape varieties : A unique combination of two families of grape varieties: the atlantic varieties of Merlot, Cabernet, Cot and the mediterranean varieties of Grenache and Syrah.

Vineyard : The Cabardés, both a Region and a Vineyard, bordered by the Canal du Midi in the south, is located between Carcassonne and the Pic de Nore (1210 m) on the gentle slopes of the Montagne Noire, in the heart of Languedoc between Toulouse and the Mediterranean. Here the vines drink up all the riches from the sun and the earth through the white stones of the chalky foothills. This terroir is composed of four different types of soil, granites and terraces in the south, chalky marl on the slopes and siliceous formations of the Montagne Noire to the North.

Wines : The blending of these grape varieties makes the wines of Cabardés rich, complex and well-balanced wines. The wines of Cabardés are languedocian by nature, being grown under the double aromatic influence of the East wind and West wind.

CORBIÈRES

Couronné par les citadelles du pays Cathare,
Ciselé par des vents
Contraires, le Massif des
Corbières signe des vins
Contrastés, intenses, épicés,
Corsés, d'une autre nature.
Corbières en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le Languedoc.
White, red or rosé wines.
Received the AOC classification in 1985.

Grape varieties : Syrah, Grenache noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault for reds and rosés. Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache blanc, Maccabeu, Bourboulenc for whites.

Vineyard : A land of contrast exhibiting strange shapes carved by the wind, its hilltops crowned by the citadels of the Cathar country, a landscape of gorges and wild hill slopes flooded with sunlight, the Corbières mountain range towering over the Golfe du Lion and its string of ponds stretches over 23000 hectares, 19000 of which have received AOC classification. This is the largest appellation in Languedoc.

Wines : Reds are intense, round and full-bodied, with hints of pepper and spice. The tannic structure is rich and blended, giving the Corbières wines genuine aging potential. Whites are fine and floral, bringing together their unctuousness and liveliness in perfect harmony. Rosés are lively and pleasant.

FITOU

Festifs à l'unisson mais distincts,
Fitou maritime-lagunaire et
Fitou d'arrière-pays plus sec
Foisonnement de notes de girofle, de
Fragrances de laurier et de pierre à
Fusil, en robe rubis foncé.
Fitou en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le Languedoc.
Red wines.
Received the AOC classification in 1948,
The oldest of the red AOCs in Languedoc.

Grape varieties : The main grape varieties are the Carignan grown on its favourite soil, ideally completed by the Grenache noir.The Syrah and Mourvèdre bring flavour and persistence in the mouth.

Vineyard : The vineyard of Fitou is divided into two production areas. The steep hills in the South East of the Corbières mountains, and the terroir along the coast, home of Fitou which gave its name to the appellation. The vineyard stretches over 2500 hectares.

Wines : There is generosity in these potent wines, spiced with fragrances of gunflint, bay leaf and clove. Some need 4 or 5 years to fully mature.

LIMOUX

Le long de la haute vallée de
L'Aude, accrochés aux Coteaux,
Les vignobles de Limoux
Livrent Blanquette, Crémant et
Les blancs tranquilles chers à Tite-
Live. Des vins de fête et de lumière.
Limoux en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le Languedoc.
Bubbly wines, still white wines.

Grape varieties : Mauzac, Chenin and Chardonnay.

Vineyard : 3000 hectares around Limoux, where the atlantic and mediterranean rub shoulders.

Wines :
- Blanquette de Limoux AOC in 1938
Mainly produced from the Mauzac grape variety. Aged at least 9 months in the cellar. Best served brut throughout the meal or demi sec for dessert.
- Crémant de Limoux AOC in 1990
Composed of no more than 70% Mauzac and no less than 30% Chardonnais and Chenin. Aged 12 months in the cellar. Best served brut for apéritif or to accompany fish or white meat.
- Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale AOC in 1938
The second fermentation in the bottle is due to the sugar contained in the Mauzac at harvest. This wine can reach 6/7° and is an ideal companion for sweet desserts.
- Limoux AOC in 1993
Issued from the 3 varieties of the AOC, its white wines are made and conditioned in oak barrels. Perfect with a foie gras or a goat cheese.

MALEPÈRE

Massif boisé en trapèze, la
Malepère dessine l'Ouest Audois en
Mosaïques de vignes en fête.
Mariage réussi des influences
Méditerranéennes et océaniques,
Microclimat miraculeux de la Malepère.
Malepère en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le Languedoc.
Red and rosé wines. Received the AOC classification in 2007.

Grape varieties : In reds, Merlot is the dominant variety, associated with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cot, Grenache and Cinsault bring their mediterranean touch.

Vineyard : At the heart of the triangle of Carcassonne, Limoux and Castelnaudary, this is the most westerly of Languedoc vineyards. From the Mont Naut, it's a succession of hills and vales. This is a vineyard of lime-clay hills and gravelly terraces, gifted with varieties and a personality that trespass the southern borders.

Wines : The combination of grape varieties contributes in giving the wines of Malepère originality; these are well-structured wines to accompany Cassoulet, red meats, game or fermented cheeses. Younger wines give off aromas of red fruits and blackcurrant; older wines have notes of spices, vanilla and roasting.

MINERVOIS

Merveilleusement situés entre
Montagne Noire et Canal du
Midi, les plans de vigne du
Minervois s'entourent de
Microclimats et hument vents
Marins parmi le romarin.
Minervois en Languedoc, ses vins parlent le Languedoc.
White, red and rosé wines, Muscat and "vins nobles".
Received AOC classification in 1985.

Grape varieties : Mourvèdre and Syrah bring full aromatic complexity and finesse to the Grenaches noirs. Carignan and Cinsault are for red and rosé wines. White varieties are numerous: Grenache, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Maccabeu, Rolle and Muscat.

Vineyard : Located within a triangle delimited by Carcassonne, Narbonne and Béziers, the vineyard stretches in terraces over 18,000 hectares, 5000 of which are in production.

Wines : The East of the Minervois offers well-structured reds of a handsome, ruby colour, the Centre offers distinguished, supple wines, while the whites are fresh and rich in floral aromas. To the West, reds are lively and aromatic, and whites are drier. Higher up, reds have more body while whites are more inspired by fragrances of heather. Saint-Jean de Minervois is the home of the Muscat, a natural sweet wine, both subtle and fruity.

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