The biddies take another stop on the passport tour to discuss more delicious red wine and possibly the first traditional method fermented sparkling wine. Together Languedoc and Roussillon produce one-third of all French wine. Tune in to hear about this not much talked about wine region: Languedoc-Roussillon.

Kara drinking: Bertrand Gerard Cremant de Limoux Rose and Les Darons Languedoc 2019

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Sources

Society of Wine Educators, “Certified Specialist of Wine Study Guide”

Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack, “Wine Folly: The Master Guide”

Seven-Fifty, Languedoc

Wine Folly, Languedoc-Roussillon

Food Republic, Getting to Know Limoux

Wine Folly, Cremant Wine

Image Credit: Decanter, 8 Sparkling Limoux Wines Worth Seeking Out

Please note some of these notes may be directly copied and pasted from above sources.

Study notes for Languedoc-Roussillon:

SOUTHERN FRANCE

  • Languedoc and Roussillon make up the Occitanie/Mediterranean coastal region of France
  • Languedoc is 90%, Roussillon makes up other 10%
  • Together they represent France’s largest wine making region, one in three French wines is produced here

HISTORY

  • Greeks introduced wine to the area in 5th century BC and winemaking proliferated under the Romans
  •  In the 17th century, construction of the Canal du Midi, which connected the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, gave a boost to the wine sector. In the late 19th century, the railway system made it easier to ship wine to Northern France, which led to a period of great prosperity for the Languedoc wine community.
  • Phylloxera 1868

GRAPES

  • Rich full-bodied red wines with Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre as major components.
  • Unoaked zesty white wines made mostly with Picpoul and Grenache Blanc. Step aside Pinot Grigio.
  • Same varieties in reds and whites, but pink by design.
  • Cremant de Limoux is supposedly older than Champagne; and a super value.

LANGUEDOC

  • The largest producer of organic wines in France
  • Biggest producer of IGP and AOC roses in the France
  • The majority of Languedoc’s wines are red blends
  • Rosé and still white wines are produced here

LIMOUX (Languedoc)

  • Sparkling wines made in the traditional method, a technique made famous because of its association with Champagne but one that’s believed to have been discovered in Languedoc’s Limoux area.
  • Crémant employs labor-intensive secondary bottle fermentation, as does Champagne. There are a wide variety of styles to choose from, as Crémant is made in eight different appellations throughout France (and can also be found in neighboring Luxembourg). 
  • La Blanquette de Limoux is undoubtedly the oldest sparkling wine in the world. We know that in 1531 the monks of St. Hilaire produced Blanquette de Limoux.
  • Working with Mauzac, a local grape varietal, the monks created an effervescent wine crafted for celebrations and primed for international appeal. 
  • Less than 200 years later, the British were sipping coupes of Limoux, and cases of blanquette had made their way across the Atlantic to Thomas Jefferson’s cellar at Monticello.
  • Unconfirmed sources say that he spent time at Saint-Hilaire before heading north to Champagne to continue his winemaking journey.
    • The original is known as méthode ancestrale, a sweeter sparkler made with 100% Mauzac grapes. Since these wines are made the old fashioned way, the unfiltered bottles are more cloudy than clear and have distinctive apple notes.
    • Next up is blanquette, a wine made primarily of Mauzac, which can incorporate small amounts of Chenin and Chardonnay. Made with modern techniques, these wines are dry but show a ripe green apple sweetness while pouring crystal clear.
    • Finally, there’s crémant de Limoux, a sparkler that falls into the drier, more international style of bubblies. Crémants come in a classic dry style as well as a rosé, both of which make for a great aperitif. They are made primarily from Chardonnay and Chenin, with additions of Mauzac and Pinot Noir allowed.