Sieur d’Arques, Grande Cuvée 1531 | Gérard Bertrand, Cigalus | Vignerons Catalans, Fruité Catalan | Dromadaire, 30670 | Mas de Madame
The Sud de France region boasts a diverse range of wines, including red, white, rosé, sweet and sparkling, with a choice of AOPs (previously AOCs), Vin de Pays (IGP), single varietals and blends, all of which can be matched to a variety of occasions.
A little history
TThanks to its coastal location, Languedoc-Roussillon is one of France’s most ancient viticultural regions. The Greeks founded colonies here in 6 BC and were the first to plant grape vines; subsequently settled by the Romans, the region continued to nurture the vines that were an essential part of their civilization. The Roman architectural legacy is all around – Nîmes, Agde and Narbonne are prime examples – and ever since, wine growing has been inseparably linked to Languedoc-Roussillon’s identity.
The construction of railway lines between southern and northern France encouraged production levels to soar, with some 420,000 hectares of land under vine at one point, but a dramatic decline in wine consumption in the second half of the 20th century resulted in serious overproduction issues.
Today, the region produces an extensive range of world-class wines, thanks to its clement climate, excellent terroir, a policy of replacing and replanting grape varieties, and the sustained efforts of a growing number of dedicated producers committed to making wines of outstanding quality.