Côtes duTarn IGP

IGP area in the northern half of the department of Tarn in south-west France. In terms of area, it corresponds to the AOC area Gaillac and additional area to the south up to the river Agout. Côtes du Tarn belongs to the huge regional IGP area Comté Tolosan. The vineyards cover 5,000 hectares of vineyards on limestone soils mainly along and around the river Tarn in a total of 116 municipalities. The two communes of Cabanès and Cunac may add their names to the designation. This area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea has a maritime climate with mild rainy winters and dry, hot summers.

About 60% of the production is red, 30% white and 10% rosé. A speciality are the "Vin de raisins surmûris", defined as a separate wine type, made from overripe, dried grapes. The main red wine varieties are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Duras, Fer Servadou, Gamay, Merlot, Syrah, Carignan Noir(Mazuelo), Cinsaut, Gamay, Chaudenay(Chardonnay), Gamay Teinturier de Bouze, Jurançon Noir, Mérille, Portugais Bleu(Blue Portuguese), Prunelard and Marselan. The main white wine varieties are Len de l'El, Mauzac Blanc, Mauzac Rose, Muscadelle, Ondenc, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc(Trebbiano Toscano), Chardonnay, Chasan and Colombard. Well known producers are Cave de Técou, Cave Gaillac, Cave Labastide-de-Lévis, Château Clement Termes, Domaine D'en Ségur, Domaine du Comte de Thun and Stephane Lucas.