Languedoc-Roussillon

Languedoc wine comes from the south of France, from an arc of some 200 kilometres along the Mediterranean, from Nîmes to the Spanish border. The area covers four departments: Gard, Hérault, Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales. That last department is the Roussillon, hence the double name Languedoc-Roussillon.

Until 2007 the regional appellation was called Coteaux du Languedoc. By decree of 30 April 2007 the name was shortened to AOP Languedoc and the area was extended to include Corbières, Minervois and Fitou, among others. The old name was allowed on the label until 3 May 2017. According to the product specification, about 60 percent of AOP Languedoc is red, 20 percent rosé and 20 percent white.

IGP Pays d'Oc is the geographical indication for wine from the same area: Aude, Gard, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales, plus six municipalities in the Lozère. The designation was recognised by decree on 15 October 1987 as Vin de Pays d'Oc. That is why you still see 'Vin de Pays d'Oc' on older or classic labels, as with the Viognier from Delas Frères.

The hallmark of Pays d'Oc is the varietal wine. If one grape is on the label, such as merlot Pays d'Oc, the wine must be at least 85 percent of that grape. With two or more grapes named, each grape must make up at least 15 percent of the volume. In 2018 Pays d'Oc reported 58 permitted grape varieties. Well-known reds are merlot, cabernet sauvignon and syrah; among whites chardonnay and sauvignon blanc lead the way. In 2009, 5.5 million hectoliters were made, of which 59 percent was red.

The difference is in the rules. An AOP (appellation d'origine protégée, on the label often still AOC) specifies for each area which grapes may be used in which proportion, from which municipalities the grapes come and how long the wine must age. For red AOP Languedoc, grenache, syrah and mourvèdre are the core grapes, and the wine bears the name of the place, not of the grape.

An IGP (protected geographical indication) gives the maker more freedom. The area is larger, many more varieties are permitted and the grape may appear prominently on the label. That is why you almost always find merlot, cabernet franc or viognier from the Languedoc under Pays d'Oc and not under an AOP. Some houses make both, such as Maison Lorgeril and Aussières: a Pays d'Oc alongside a wine under an AOP name.

Corbières has been an AOP in the Aude since the decree of 24 December 1985, for red, rosé and white wine. Red revolves around carignan, grenache, lledoner pelut, mourvèdre and syrah; white around bourboulenc, grenache blanc, macabeu, marsanne, roussanne and vermentino, among others. Within Corbières there has been a separate AOP Corbières-Boutenac since 2005.

Minervois received AOC status in 1985. In 1999 came Minervois-La Livinière as its own appellation, for red wine only from six municipalities. Mourvèdre and syrah together must make up at least 40 percent, and the wine matures until at least 15 October of the year after the harvest.

In Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages has been recognised since 1977, for red only, with at least two grape varieties and at least 30 percent syrah and mourvèdre. The product specification cites more than 2500 hours of sunshine a year and the tramontane, which blows roughly one day in three.

At ’t Bockje there are both AOP wines and Pays d'Oc varietal wines from this region. From Maison Lorgeril these are the Borie Blanche Minervois La Livinière, the Mas des Montagnes Roussillon Blanc and Roussillon Villages Rouge, and the 1620 Cabernet Franc Pays d'Oc. Laurent Miquel is represented with Les Auzines Corbières, Languedoc Rosé and Languedoc Rouge.

Chateau d'Aussieres Corbieres and the Aussieres blanc and rouge Pays d'Oc from Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite also come from Corbières. From Delas Frères, the Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc and the Syrah Pays d'Oc are on the shelf, and from Louise Bruneau the Blanc and Rouge Pays d'Oc. Would you like to taste and see the difference between AOP and Pays d'Oc for yourself? Drop by at Brink 2 in Bathmen or call 0570 541 278.

The shop is at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Open Tuesday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00. For advice, call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.