Limoux AOC

The appellation is located in the very west of the Languedoc wine region in the department of Aude (sometimes it is considered to be part of the southwest region of France). The vineyards cover 1,800 hectares of vines at an altitude of around 160 metres above sea level on a combination of light and stony clay and limestone soils. They extend over 41 communes on the southern slopes of the upper Aude valley, with Limoux, the main town nearest to Carcassonne. Protected by the Pyrenees, the climate is oceanic-Mediterranean. Limoux became famous for its sparkling wines, which were already produced in the 16th century. There are three appellations:

• Blanquette de Limoux and Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale for sparkling wine (1938)
• Crémant de Limoux for sparkling wine (1990)
• Limoux for white and red still wines (white 1981 and red 2005)

The classification as AOC was made at different times (see above). All wines belong to the second quality category "Grands Vins du Languedoc". Limoux Rouge is blended from the varieties Merlot (zum. 50%), Cot, Syrah, Grenache Noir = Garnacha Tinta (zum. 30%) and Carignan Noir = Mazuelo (max. 10%). Limoux Blanc is made from the varieties Mauzac Blanc (zum. 15%), as well as Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. There are about 400 producers, including Domaine de l'Aigle, Domaine de Fourn and Domaine de Martinolles.