About Languedoc-Roussillon Wines

The two regions of Languedoc and Roussillon are usually appended together but they both represent very different styles of winemaking, very different terrains.

In the Languedoc, there has always been far more quality potential than there is in Roussillon, but over the years the fertile nature of the land has resulted in quantity being the main focus, to the detriment of the great wines it could produce.

The grapes used are very similar to the Rhone, with the likes of Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre making regular appearances among the reds, and Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc vying with increasing plantings of Chardonnay among the whites. Carignan is probably the most characteristic grape of the region. It is capable of some medium intensity, high-colume wines that are excellent crowd-pleasers, but also some extremely good quality wines with black fruit, spicy and earthy notes.

Wine Regions of the Languedoc

Click on each to find wines from their regions

Corbières is the fourth largest wine producing region in France with a big focus on red wines. Its sub-appelation, Corbières-Boutenac, is known for producing even fuller wines.

Minervois has a large range of different climates that are mostly suitable for red wines, although rose and white are made too. For those explorers, one interesting grape to look out for is Lledoner Pelut. Within the bounds of Minervois is Minervois La Livinière, an appelation for red wines only. Its climactic conditions are much cooler due to altitude and with more sunlight allowing for better quality wine production than the rest of Minervois. These are ones to look out for!

Saint-Chinian is another large Languedoc appellation, situated between Minervois and Faugères. The majority of production is red and rosé from blends mostly made up of of Grenache Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Wines from the North of the area are often better quality thanks to the soil conditions. Here you can find the two sub-zones of Saint-Chinian Roquebrun and Saint-Chinian Berlou.

Fitou is one of the best-known appellations, making strong earthy reds out of mainly Carignan. It is made up of two parts with a coastal region that tends to produce the lighter wines, and a mountainous inland area that usually has the better wines.

Faugeres often makes wines of very good intensity and is a bit of a champion of organic wine making. The wines have to be aged for a year before release meaning they are more complex than the standard of the Languedoc region.

Pic Saint-Loup is a bit different from the rest of the Languedoc appelations. The climate is similar to the Northern Rhone, with warm Summers and cold Winters. As in the Northern Rhone, Syrah grows well here and this is reflected in the wines where 50% of the blend must be Syrah. This is a great region to go to if you are a usual Rhone drinker.

Terrasses du Larzac gained AOC status in 2014 making it one of the most recent in the Languedoc to earn this. Only red wines can be made here and they are required to be made from at least three varieties in order to encourage complexity. Many wines from here are high quality and have the price to go with it.

La Clape is even newer having gained status in 2015. The conditions are warm, dry and sunny which means that grapes such as Mourvedre grow best here. The reds are the majority of production and tend to be ripe and full bodied. The whites are lower in production but highly sort after. These are a blend at least 60% Grenache Blanc and/or Bourboulenc.

Picpoul de Pinet is famed for its distinctively bottled white wine made entirely from the Piquepoul Blanc grape. These crisp, floral, fruity wines have soared in demand in recent years, at first through tourists which has helped their exports boom. The UK market alone accounts for about 60% of the exports!

Malepère is the closest to the Atlantic of the Languedoc's appelations meaning it is actually better suited to Bordeaux grapes. This is refelcted in the regulations, stipulating that the wines must have a minimum 40% Merlot.

Cabardès receives influence from both the Atlantic and the Med. Again, due to it's proximity to Bordeaux, you'll find a number of the wines are Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon based with 40% minimum required of either/or one of these.

Limoux also sits a little further inland and these days is much enjoyed for some lovely whites using Chardonnay. It's history however lies in being the World's first region to ever produce sparkling wine known as Blanquette de Limoux which is made with the variety Mauzac. Step aside Champagne!

The Coteaux du Languedoc is possibly the most far-reaching appellation within the Languedoc. It is particularly known for producing a large amount of Vin de Pays - this is essentially a 'country wine', and, rather than the name of the town or appellation dominating the label, it's the grape variety. Some are great and well priced, some are rather disappointing, but if you've got just a fiver to spend they can regularly deliver you a decent drop of red or white.

Roussilon Wines

Rousillon is much smaller than the neighbouring Languedoc and makes what are best described as more rustic wines, along with its own particular speciality, a port-like wine that comes under the French classification of vins doux naturels. The Banyuls, just north of the Spanish border, is the most famous of these semi-fortified wines, along with Maury. In the case of still wines, many are produced under the Côtes du Roussillon Villages appellation, with the majority of reds made from Grenache and the majority of whites made from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Marsanne. However, the vast majority of still wines are made as Vin de Pays.

Major white grape varieties: Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Chardonnay, Picpoul.

Major red grape varieties: Carignan, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre.

Key areas to watch: Terrasses du Larzac is focused on quality, Corbières is reliable and St Chinian and Faugeres regularly overdeliver.

Names to look out for: La Baronne, Etang des Colombes, Meunier St Louis (Corbières), Alquier, Moulin de Ciffre (Faugeres), Cazal-Viel (St Chinian), Casenove, Mas Cremant, Mas Segala, Cazes (Roussillon).