Languedoc-Roussillon (Languedoc-Roussillon) – large and very diverse wine region of the South of France, covering an area from Nimes and Montpellier in the East and the Spanish border in the South, skirting the Gulf of lion.
As you might guess from the name double, it was two different region: Languedoc and Roussillon (Roussillon) . And although politics and Commerce blinded them together, geographically and culturally they were different.
Languedoc – really French in its essence, and in Roussillon it is obvious Spanish influence, in particular Catalan.
And if the vineyards of the Languedoc are located mainly in the lowland coast, the Roussillon, they either stick out on the rocky peaks, or nest at the foot of the Pyrenees. However, two of these areas so often and for so long were mentioned together that to separate them is now difficult.
About a quarter of all vines, giving the grapes for French wine, located in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon.
And these are different wines, as blanket de Lima varieties of Muzak, rich sweet red wines of Banyuls and rose from the Cotes du Roussillon.
To talk about a feature of the region “average” is difficult, because the terroir of his “dancing” along with the topography. A large area of land here – this so-called Garriga – specific descriptive French term for dry terrain, low shrubs typical of the Mediterranean breeds. But it is the most highly located region on the southern border and in the vicinity of the Montagne Noir in the North. Overall, we can say that this is a hot dry region with marked Mediterranean climate.
In the face of changing markets and even climate, the rules of the appellation, originally developed to help winemakers are increasingly in question as reasonable, and many winemakers are experimenting with varieties, prohibited by local appellations. They are not taken over the traditional varieties of the region, and recognized – such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. As a result, these wines are unable to obtain the status of AOC and enter the market as VdP (IGP or a new pan-European classification). In this case, it happens that such wines are more expensive neighbors that have a class of AOC.
Red: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, lladoner
White: burbulenk, claret, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Ugni Blanc, Muzak, macabeo, Muscat Blanc, Vermentino, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
The quality of wines in the Languedoc-Roussillon is showing significant progress. At some point, traditional coarse wines of the region turned out to be uncompetitive against the backdrop of the affordable competitors from Australia, Argentina and Chile. Today, thanks to a new style of winemaking, innovation in production and the revival of wine-growing territories, we can speak about a fresh air in the wines. This is particularly noticeable in the growth of investment and the quality of wines Maury (Maury) in the Northern Roussillon, updating the style of crémant Limoux (Limoux) and the inclusion of rose and white wines in the regulations of the appellation of Collioure (Collioure).
The most significant development was the establishment in 2007 of the new appellation Languedoc (simply Languedoc), which implies the production of quality wines from around the Languedoc-Roussillon.
The laying of Railways in the South of France in the 19th century gave a powerful impetus to the local wine industry and led to changes at the national level. Until now the transportation of wine was tied almost exclusively to water transport, which gave regions like Bordeaux and the Loire Valley a clear advantage over the southern regions deprived of effective communication with key markets in the North of France, in the UK, Holland and Germany. The presence of the canal du MIDI, which connects Montpellier from Toulouse, not helped as to overcome the way bottom-up was not easy and was devoid of practical meaning. So as soon as the vineyards of Languedoc and Roussillon laid rails, the demand for them available and produce large volumes of wine has grown in multiples. It is an industrial innovation launched the success stories of the wine region.
Based on Wine-Searcher
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