LANGUEDOCFRANCE
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.
Welcome to Languedoc!
Our Heritage
WHAT WE VALUE People
Our
Our Nature Our EnterprisingSpirit Our Wines
LANGUEDOC: BY THE NUMBERS 2,500 years of winegrowinghistory 20 AOPs 90,000+ acres of vines
140 million bottlesperproducedyear 59% 21% 20% 3 colors (red, white and rosé) + sparkling & sweet wines A producerleadingin organic wines U.S #1 marketexport by volume/value
17091285 15441st CenturyBCDiscovery of fortifying wines by Arnaud de VilleneuveBubbles!LABLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX The first sparkling wine was made in Languedoc Planting of vineyardshillside LANGUEDOC: A HISTORY OF INNOVATION The Roman Era 1970 1993 AheadLooking GRAFTING developed by Jules-Emile Planchon helped overcome the phylloxera crisis of 1868 1873 ALAIN BOUQUET The father of resistant grape varieties began his research at L’ INRA in Montpellier 1st Millesime Bio Languedoc launched the world’s first all organic expo, still going strong today. Get to Languedoc,knowthe 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. 33% of France’s LanguedocvineyardsorganicareinRoussillon 10% of organic LanguedocworldwideacreageisinRoussillon 27% of currentlyacreagebeingconverted All andobjectivesongoingappellationsLanguedocsharereportsonsustainabilityandhaveambitiousfororganicHVEcertification.Non-invasive treatments Organic insect repellants Protecting & planting hedges Collecting rainwater Protecting animal habitats Focus on biodiversity …and much more! Sustainability In Action MANIFESTO
THE SYSTEMAPPELLATIONLANGUEDOC
Languedoc wines are grouped in 5 classifications for AOP wines that capture the range of styles and terroir in our region.
-Saint Chinian Roquebrun -Saint Chinian Berlou ClairetteMalepèreDu Languedoc TerrassesCabardèsPicpoulPicLimouxSaint-LoupdePinetduLarzac
AOPS
Muscat de Mireval
Limoux Méthode Ancestrale
Limoux Blanquette de Limoux
THE SPARKLING WINE
THE SUB-REGIONAL AOPS SaintCorbièresChinian
AOP LANGUEDOC
THE SWEET WINE AOPS
Muscat de Lunel
SUBREGIONALAOPS WINESPARKLINGTHEAOPs THESWEETWINEAOPs LANGUEDOCAOP AOPsDESIGNATEDTHEVILLAGE AOP’s
Languedoc Saint Saturnin Languedoc Sommières Languedoc Cabrières
Languedoc La Méjanelle Languedoc Saint Drézéry Languedoc Saint Georges D’Orques
Crémant de Limoux
THE AOPSVILLAGE-DESIGNATED La MinervoisFitouClape la Livinière Corbières Boutenac Faugères
Languedoc Pézenas Languedoc Quatourze Languedoc Grés de Montpellier
Languedoc Saint Christol Languedoc Montpeyroux
AOP LANGUEDOC FOUNDED IN 2007 (successor to Coteaux Languedoc)du SOILS: RiverLimestoneSchistgravel CLIMATE: WarmmountainoussunMediterraneanandcrispair450 Wineries 80 Co-ops THE REGIONAL APPELLATION The AOP andfoothillsandtheborderedthestretchingofThevineyardforformingLanguedocaappellationLanguedocencompasseslargepartofthewineregion,acommoncoreitsmyriadanddiversesites.geographicalscopeAOPLanguedocisvast,fromNîmestoSpanishborder.ItistotheEastbyMediterraneanSeaintheWestbytheoftheCévennestheMontagneNoire.
Over the past few years, the Languedoc of a three-tier the
COLORS
25,000 Reds, Whites & Rosés THREE-TIERASYSTEM
regional terroirhighlightstructuredappended.vineyardappellationsandsub-regionalappellation;Languedoctheappellations;thesub-regionaltowhichsitenamesareTheaimofthispyramidistospecificsiteanddistinction.
RED: Main: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre Secondary: CinsaultCarignan, WHITE: Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Piquepoul Blanc, Marsanne,Roussanne,Rolle,Viognier
hierarchy:
wine authorities have prioritized the establishment
HillsAtlanticMediterranean&Mountains1 2 3
OUR
Maquis type of vegetation thrives in acidic siliceous soils— i.e. schist, sage, bay, lavender, heather, arbutus
1 2
Garrigue limestone soils with low-lying scrub, herbal vegetation Aromatic plants thyme, rosemary, spike lavender, juniper, boxwood, holm oak
KEY ASPECTS
320 days of sunshine per year
3
CLIMATE DEFINES TERROIR
Many indigenous grapes such as Piquepoul, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Long,Muscatwarm
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
MediterraneanSea
soils, limestone, mineral-rich clay and sandstone
summers with abundant sunshine and mild, wet
Rich red blends and unique whites that benefit from fully ripened grapes and healthy vine-to-water balance
(The Coastal Plains)
Sedimentarywinters
1 ZONE 1: MEDITERRANEAN
SANDSTONE soils Grès de inLIMESTONEMontpelliersoilsLaClapeCLAY: Red volcanic soils in Cabardès City of Montpellier Mediterranean coastline Boutenac vineyards Picpoul de Pinet vineyards
ZONE 2: ATLANTIC
(The West)
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
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
Atlantic and Mediterranean grape varieties (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mauzac, Malbec/Côt, Chenin, Chardonnay)
TOWARDSTHEATLANTIC
SANDSTONE soils in Limoux
Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire in
Blanquette de LimouxCity of CarcassonneVineyards of Limoux Mountainous, Atlantic influences
Higher elevations and volcanic subsoils lend minerality and depth
MediterraneanSea
(The North)
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah create rich reds with tannic Dry,intensityhotclimate in the summer and cold in the winter; warm days and cool Ruffenights(redsandstone), Jurassic limestone, basalt terraces and schist
3 ZONE 3: HILLS & MOUNTAINS
SCHIST soils in Saint-ChinianFaugères, CLAY: Red volcanic soils induTerrasesLarzac LIMESTONE soils in PicMinervois-la-Livinière,Corbières,SaintLoup Pic Saint-Loup Saint-Chinian Saint-Corbières Château d'Aguilar in Tuchan, Corbières City of Béziers
STYLES
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.
Ruby-Reds: including medium-bodied Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan
ROSÉ MauzacCheninViognierMarsanneRoussanneChardonnay WHITES 59%
LANGUEDOC: WINE STYLES - TASTING GUIDE of productionall VARIETIES TO LOOK FOR Noir Noir
Heritage varieties: Languedoc has a longstanding tradition in white wines, including many local varieties such as Piquepoul
CinsaultCarignanMourvèdreGrenacheSyrah PiquepoulCounoise
Terret
Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre (GSM): powerful blends capable of long aging, often sourced from older vines
% Blanc/GrisGrenacheClairetteBourboulencPiquepoul
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
AOP Picpoul de Pinet: 100% dedicated to Piquepoul
STILL
20% of productionall
21% of productionall
AOP Clape: requires a minimum of 40% Bourboulenc, a late-ripening, rich and complex local white variety
TOP
Les Rouges-Bleus: deeply colored reds with blue tones, violet-purple hues and profound flavor
There are 3 sparkling wine appellations, all in Limoux: Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant de Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux Méthode Ancestrale.
STYLES TO LOOK FOR Blanc
SWEET 861,000 9L yearcases/ TOP
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 Yearcases/ (Muscats de Lunel Mireval)and
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.
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.
Mauzac PinotCheninChardonnay(Blanquette)BlancNoir % Muscat
LANGUEDOC: WINE STYLES - TASTING GUIDE VARIETIES
REACH
OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Helen Gregory – helen@gregoryvine.com
Contacts in the US:
Katie Keith – katie@gregoryvine.com
CONTACT
Contact in France:
@LanguedocWines
Claire Martin – claire@gregoryvine.com
Estelle Nijhof – enijhof@languedoc-wines.com
