The northern part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the deep south of France on the Mediterranean coast. From north to south-west, it comprises the three departments of Gard, Hérault and Aude. The much smaller Roussillon in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales adjoins to the west, with the wine-growing regions of Provence and Rhône to the east. The name is derived from "langue d'oc", which means "language of the Oc" (oc = yes). This Occitan language was spoken south of the Loire in the Middle Ages; "langue d'oil" was spoken to the north ("oui" developed from "oil").

Territorial reform

The regions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées were merged in 2016 to form the new political region of Occitania (Occitanie in French). A sparkling wine was produced here long before the much more famous champagne, today's Blanquette de Limoux. Cartagène is a special form of high-alcohol, sweet vin de liqueur in Languedoc. Until the 1980s, the Languedoc had a reputation as a wine-growing region that mainly produced cheap mass-produced wine. From the beginning of the 1990s, there were EU-sponsored grubbing-up programmes. This led to an extremely large reduction in vineyards in just 10 years.

Vineyards, climate & soil

The vineyards cover over 200,000 hectares of vines. They extend over 200 kilometres, mostly close to the Mediterranean coast, from Nimes with the AOC Costières de Nîmes, which is part of the Rhône region under wine law, in the east to Narbonne with Limoux and Corbières in the west. Most of it lies on low-lying alluvial soil, and this is also where most of the land was cleared. The vineyards in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the west, a few hundred metres above sea level, lie on slate and limestone slopes. As in the Roussillon area, the climate is Mediterranean with dry and hot summers. The division of the vineyards according to quality levels:

Grape varieties

The most important red wine varieties are Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Mourvèdre (Monastrell) and Syrah; secondary varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan Noir (Mazuelo), Cinsaut, Counoise, Llladoner Pelut (Garnacha Peluda), Morrastel (Graciano), Piquepoul Noir and Terret Noir. The most important white wine varieties are Bourboulenc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca); secondary varieties are Carignan Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache Gris (Garnacha Roja), Macabéo, Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Rolle (Vermentino), Roussanne, Terret Blanc, Viognier and Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano).

For red wines, the carbonic maceration method (carbonic maceration) is common. The Languedoc is the main French supplier of simple wine and produces 80% of IGP wines (country wines). The Mas de Daumas-Gassac winery in the municipality of Aniane, among others, established the fame of such wines.

Quality pyramid

The CIVL (Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc) has drawn up a new classification for the region's wines, which came into force in 2011. The pyramid-shaped hierarchy in ascending order is Languedoc, Grands Vins du Languedoc and Crus du Languedoc.

The basis for the categorisation are qualitative and economic criteria (among other things, certain distribution channels and minimum sales prices are prescribed). A wine must fulfil certain characteristics and undergo a test above the simple AOC Languedoc in order to be classified in the higher category 2 or 3. This is intended to strengthen the small appellations by emphasising their terroir.

AOC Languedoc

The first level AOC Languedoc was created in 2007 and replaced the former AOC Coteaux du Languedoc (the old name could still be used until 2017). Confusingly, however, the new AOC covers the majority of the dual region of Languedoc-Roussillon. Specifically, there are 195 communes in the department of Aude, 19 communes in the department of Gard, 160 communes in the department of Hérault and 122 communes in the department of Pyrénées-Orientales.

The vineyards cover around 10,000 hectares, accounting for 20% of production. Red and rosé wines are blended from Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Syrah (to 50%), as well as Llladoner Pelut, Carignan Noir, Cinsaut, Counoise, Grenache Gris, Terret Noir and Piquepoul Noir (max. 50%). White wines are produced from Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Piquepoul Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Rolle (max. 70%), as well as Carignan Blanc, Macabéo, Terret Blanc, Viognier and Ugni Blanc (max. 30%). The maximum yields are 50 hl/ha for red and rosé wines and 60 hl/ha for white wines.

Grands Vins du Languedoc

The second level, Grands Vins du Languedoc, accounts for around 70% of wine production. This includes most of the appellations listed below (with the exception of AOC Languedoc, of course). These are structured, aromatic wines that are typical of their terroir. The regulations regarding blends of grape varieties are individual and are listed for each appellation. The maximum permitted yield is 48 to 50 hl/ha.

Crus du Languedoc

At the top of the list are the Crus du Languedoc with around 10% of production. These expressive wines bear the "signature of the producer". White wines must be matured for at least six months, red wines for at least twelve months. A sensory test is mandatory. At least 70% of the production must be sold directly from the winery. Maximum yields are 45 hl/ha for red wines and 50 hl/ha for white wines.

Appellations (AOC) and IGP areas

The AOC areas or appellations (quality wines) and IGP areas (regional wines) in the Languedoc region are

• Aude (IGP)
• Blanquette de Limoux, Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale
• Cabardès
• Cabrières
• Cévennes (IGP)
• Clairette de Bellegarde
• Clairette du Languedoc
• Corbières
• Corbières-Boutenac
• Costières de Nîmes - belongs to the Rhône under wine law
• Coteaux de Bèziers (IGP)
• Côtes de Thongue (IGP)
• Crémant de Limoux
• Faugères
• Fitou, Fitou Maritime, Fitou de Hautes-Corbières
• Fonséranes
• Gard (IGP)
• Grés de Montpellier
• Hérault = Pays d'Hérault (IGP)
• La Clape
• La Méjanelle
• Languedoc (until 2006 Coteaux du Languedoc)
• Limoux
• Malepère
• Minervois
• Minervois-La-Livinière
• Montpeyroux
• Muscat de Frontignan
• Muscat de Lunel
• Muscat de Mireval
• Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois
• Pays d'Oc (IGP)
• Pézenas
• Picpoul de Pinet
• Pic Saint-Loup
• Quatourze
• Sable de Camargue
• Saint-Chinian, Saint-Chinian Berlou, Saint-Chinian Roquebrun
• Saint-Christol
• Saint-Drézéry
• Saint-Georges-d'Orques
• Saint-Saturnin
• Sommières
• Terrasses du Larzac
• Terres du Midi (IGP)
• Vallée du Paradis (IGP)

Producers

The best-known producers include Domaine L'Aigueliere, Domaine des Deux Platanes, Mas d'Andrum, Domaine d'Aupilhac, Domaine Bassac, Château Belot, Domaine Bourdic, Mas Bruguière, CV de Cabrières, Domaine le Cazal, Domaine de Cazeneuve, Domaine de la Coste, Château de l'Engarran, Mas de Daumas-Gassac, Mas d'Espanet, Château de Flaugergues, Domaine de la Grangette, Domaine Guiraud-Boyer, Domaine de Laballe, Château de Lascaux, Château Notre Dame, Domaine Peyre Rose, Château Peyriac de Mer, Château Puech-Haut, Domaine Pujol, Domaine du Rocher des Fées, Château de Roquenégade, Domaine de la Roque, Domaine de Sainte Rose, CV de St-Saturnin, Les Trois Blasons, Domaine du Temple and Maison Maurel Vedeau.

Map: from DalGobboM¿!i? - Own work, GFDL, link