From
the hills of Corbières to the Pyrénées
mountains, Roussillon is the sunniest region
in France. The climate, the history and the traditions
of Roussillon make it more similar to Spain than
to Languedoc. This is maybe the reason why Roussillon
wines are still fighting to find an identity.
Carignan
is the most important grape variety in Roussillon.
A local grape called Lladoner Pelut is also used
along with Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
Red wines are generally spicy and medium body.
Rosé are fruity. White wines are made with
Macabeu and local Malvoisie. They are the perfect
match with local sea food products.
Côtes
du Roussillon Villages label is granted to
25 villages along the Agly river, just south
of Corbières.
Côtes de Roussillon Villages produces only
red wine. They are stronger than the Roussillon
and express the most of their sunny terroir.
Grand
Roussillon is an appellation for sweet wine
from 89 Roussillon villages. The appellation
is not including the sweet wines from Banyuls,
Rivesaltes, Maury and Collioure which deserve
each of them their own appellation. Roussillon
is without doubt an interesting region for both
red and white sweet wine. The grapes usually
used are Muscat blanc, Muscat romain and Grenache
for sweet white wine, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault
and Lista for sweet red wine.
Côtes
du Roussillon wine information :
| Name: |
Appellation
Côtes du Roussillon Controlée
Appellation Côtes du Roussillon Villages
Controlée
Appellation
Grand Roussillon Controlée |
| Location: |
Around
the city of Perpignan in the deep south of
France |
| Places: |
118
villages |
| Soil: |
Various:
limestone, clayey limestone, sandstone, granite |
| Size: |
5,600
ha (13,800 acres) |
| Production: |
27
million bottles
70% red wine, 28% rosé |
| Grapes: |
Red
and Rosé:
Carignan
Syrah
Lladoner
Pelut
Grenache
Mourvèdre
White:
Maccabéo (Macabeu)
Malvoisie
Grenache
blanc
|
| Type
of wines: |
Medium
body red wine
Dry light rosé
Dry white wine |
| Age: |
Red:
2 to 5 years
White: 1 to 3 years |
Vintages:
(recommended) |
Red:
2006, 2001
White: 2004 |
| Aromas: |
Red:
Black fruits
Licorice
Red fruits
|
| Food: |
Red:
Grilled red meat
Feathered game
Rosé:
Onion tart
Omelet |
Cheese:
|
Red:
Cheddar
Comté
Epoisses
Rosé:
Chaource
Next:
Saint Chinian |
More pages about Languedoc Roussillon : Languedoc
Roussillon region
Wines
from Languedoc Roussillon :
Corbieres - Coteaux
du Languedoc - Cotes
du Roussillon - Fitou - Minervois - Saint
Chinian - Costieres
de Nimes - Wines
from Languedoc Roussillon
About Languedoc Roussillon wine region :
Languedoc
Roussillon wine information - Languedoc
Roussillon region information - Languedoc
Roussillon wine map - Winemaking
in Languedoc Roussillon - Languedoc
Roussillon wines and food - Buy
wine - Languedoc
Roussillon main page
Other
french wine regions :
Alsace - Bordeaux - Bourgogne
/ Burgundy - Champagne - Corsica - Cotes
du Rhone - Loire
Valley - Provence - South
West
