Guide to wine grape varieties in Languedoc Roussillon, South France
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Red grapes: |
CARIGNON is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the Languedoc Roussillon region, south of France. These wines are high in alcohol, deep coloured, full bodied and lots of tannin. It needs time to develop becoming gamey, spicy and rich in flavour. When blended it gives the wine structure and body. |
CINSAULT probably originated in France and many regions use Cinsault for fruit and finesse and is usually combined with Carignon and Granache Noir. |
GRANACHE NOIR probably originated from Spain and is usually combined with Cabernet and Cinsault to give alcohol, fatness and generosity. Granache is often used in Languedoc Roussillon, south of France, and produces strong wines with deep colour with a lovely fruity raspberry and black-current flavour. This wine is low in tannin making it an excellent wine to blend with the higher tannin varieties. |
SYRAH this grape has been cultivated in France since Roman times, it produces a wine with the intense smell of violets, spices, green pepper and tar! It resists oxidation and ages well but needs several years to develop. Syrah brings aroma and finesse to the blend |
MOUVEDRE this variety was planted in Languedoc Roussillon, South France since at least the 16th century. It produces a spicy, slightly gamey wine with a lovely deep opaque colour when young plenty of tannin and full bodied. It needs time to develop and goes very well with Granache. |
CABERNET FRANC is sometimes compared as a poor relation of Cabernet Sauvignon but the wines are lighter and more delicate in style. Cabernet Franc is usually blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. |
MERLOT is grown in the cooler parts of the Languedoc Roussillon region, south of France, and has become very popular. It gives a supple well coloured wine of good quality and can be drunk young. |
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White grapes: |
CHARDONNAY is one of the most famous wine varieties used to produce Champagne, Chablis and of course Limoux in the Languedoc. It produces a wine high in alcohol with a slight lemon and fruit salad flavour. More and more Chardonnay is vinified in Oak in this region.
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GRANACHE BLANC is mainly grown in the South of the region. It produces wines lower in alcohol and with less flavour and is mainly used for Vin Doux Naturelles. |
PICPOUL BLANC this variety is used in the production of Picpoul de Pinet which makes a lovely dry, clean, perhaps slightly neutral wine. |
MARSANNE came to the Languedoc from the Rhone valley and is generally blended to give body weight and perfume. It produces richly flavoured, aromatic wines which age well. |
ROUSSANNE also came from the Rhone valley and is a good wine for blending. It ripens late giving finesse and bouquet. |
VIOGNIER this variety has become increasingly popular in the Languedoc. It has a unique perfume and flavour and is usually sold without blending. |
MAUZAC is the grape variety used exclusively for the production of Blanquette de Limoux. These wines mature rapidly, have a fine bouquet with a slightly apple flavour and a pleasant hint of bitterness and good acidity. |
CHENIN BLANC this variety came down from the Loire Valley and is useful in adding freshness and acidity to white wine blends. It can produce a sappy crisp wine with good acidity and for this reason it is part of the blend in Blanquette de Limoux.
Listel also uses Chenin Blanc in the Coteaux de Languedoc area. |
CLAIRETTE BLANCHE is probably the oldest white wine variety of the Languedoc. It is used for the appellations Clairette du Languedoc and Clairette de Bellegarde and it is also used in Vin Doux Naturelles and Vermouth. This wine is high in alcohol and tends to oxidise rapidly. |
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- Simon Charles
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