Languedoc
Roussillon wine making
Languedoc-Roussillon is
the largest vine growing area in the world. From the Rhône
to Spain, the wine region is several times bigger than
the Australian wine region or Bordeaux.
The
main grapes used in Languedoc Roussillon are:
-
Red: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot have replaced other mediocre
grape varieties such as Aramon and Alicante.
-
White: Macabeu, Clairette, Roussanne, Marsanne, Ugni
blanc, Bourboulenc. Viognier and Chardonnay have been
introduced with success in Languedoc Roussillon. Chardonnay
is now the most widely used grape in the region.
-
Sweet white wine: Muscat blanc, Muscat romain or d'Alexandrie
and Grenache
At
the beginning of the 70s, it became clear that the
region was not ready for the changing wine market.
The quantity exceeded the demand. The quality was mediocre.
The price too expensive compare to Italian, Spain and
now new wine countries. Languedoc Roussillon wine makers
had to change or their wine region would die. They
began to use new techniques such as aging the wine
in oak barrel. They replaced poor quality grape varieties
with noble grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot,
Chardonnay and Viognier. They selected the best vineyards
and decided to go for quality. Today, Languedoc
Roussillon is one of the most successful wine regions
in France.
Languedoc
Roussillon wine making information :
| Size
of the vineyards: |
160,000
hectares (400,000 acres)
including 70,000 hectares (173,000
acres) in AOC |
| Vineyards: |
50,000
vine growers working with 400 co-ops (70% of the
regional production)
2,800 private wineries |
| Soil: |
Mainly
limestone, sandstone, pebbles, granite can also
be found |
| Weather: |
Mediterranean (mild
winter and hot summer) |
Red
Grapes
in Languedoc Roussillon: |
Carignan
Grenache
Syrah
Cinsault
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Mourvèdre
|
White
Grapes
in Languedoc Roussillon: |
Clairette
Roussane
Marsanne
Ugni Blanc
Bourboulenc
Viognier
Chardonnay |
| Production: |
over
2 billion bottles !
less than 25% in AOC, 50% vin
de pays, over 25% vin de table |
| Type
of Wine: |
Dry
and fruity rosé wine
also dry white wine - red wine
- sweet wine
|
Next : Wines
in Languedoc Roussillon - Languedoc
Roussillon wine information - Languedoc
Roussillon region information - Languedoc
Roussillon wine making - Languedoc
Roussillon wine and food - Buy
wines - Languedoc Roussillon main
page
Wines
in Languedoc Roussillon : Corbières - Coteaux
du Languedoc - Côtes
du Roussillon - Saint
Chinian - Costières
de Nimes - wines
from Languedoc Roussillon
Pictures
of Saint Georges d'Orques, Languedoc
Other
french wine regions : Alsace - Bordeaux - Burgundy - Champagne - Corsica - Côtes
du Rhône - Loire Valley - Provence - South
West
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