La Clape, in the Languedoc wine region in France, is defined by the mass and the Mediterranean Sea. Château l'Hospitalet
When passing through the land of the Gérard Bertrand vineyard at La Clape, a Languedoc subregion, the sky descended into the sea and after some wind on the road, like a click on the ViewMaster, the snowy mountains. Mountains come out to the view Thus, in the panorama you can see what this region promises: grapes from the sea, fields and mountains.
Bertrand, a former professional rugby player, a wine maker for a long time, is prone to poetry, especially when it comes to his love story with this land.
"If we talk about what my soul is, that's my terroir," he said. "If you are not connected to your homeland, you cannot make extraordinary wine." He cited his changes to biodynamic farming in 2002 as a way to get to the land. The rest, he said, is passion and emotion.
Charismatic winemakers estimate that he traveled 150 days a year as an informal ambassador for his region. "It is important to put the Languedoc on the map for wine, diversity and lifestyle," he said.
Gérard Bertrand was the ruler of his domain in Languedoc, France. Gilles Deschamps
And the map has been modified over the past decade, with new denominations up front and changes in existence. Take advantage of improvements in viticulture and long-term anchor leadership such as Bertrand and Jean-Claude Mas, and you will have an overview of revitalized family properties, as well as newcomers to the area.
The Languedoc, formerly known as a French wine barrel, has greatly improved its supply, thanks to the revision of the wine law which increases the level of quality throughout the region. Most notable is the increase in the table wine category, called Vin de France since 2010, which makes it possible to name grape varieties and harvests on the label.
The last decade has also experienced changes at a higher level of quality. The English name (AOC), formerly known as Coteaux du Languedoc, was named after the Languedoc AOC and expanded from Nimes in the east to the Spanish border (and now includes Roussillon). The new flexibility in obtaining wine allows a mixture of cross denominations, which can produce more complex and interesting wines, said Jérôme Joseph de Calmel + Joseph, a rural house based in Montirat, just a few kilometers south. from the medieval city of Carcassonne.
The 2011 AOC revision adapted a quality pyramid hierarchy system that included seven designated Crus (11.5%), a large classification (69%) of Grand Vins that presented traditional regional grape varieties, and a general Languedoc AOC, which consisted of 19.5% the rest.
At Grand Vins, said Jérôme Villaret, from the Languedoc Interprofessional Wine Council (CIVL), "there is a personal wine that is stronger with its own specific nature", while the appointment of Cru, associated with cities, offers more "complex, iconic and outward wine normal
But the rules are still very young, Villaret said, "they are still subject to evolution" with around 36 promising AOCs, especially in the Upper Languedoc.
"We believe that this is a great dynamic wine in the future, but it will take time," he said.
In quantity and diversity, size is important.
When combined with neighboring Roussillon, the Languedoc is the largest wine-producing region in France, with around 607,792 hectares under the vine. It comprises more than one third of total wine production in France, with 76% dedicated to red wine. Home to many grape varieties, both traditional such as Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Viognier, and internationally (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay), it has some of the oldest vineyards in France, and further large organic vines (about 9.4% of the cultivation area).
Although united as an administrative region, Languedoc and Roussillon have different personalities, and Roussillon maintains many of its Catalan flavors both culturally and gastronomically. (Future articles will analyze the wine and the unique Roussillon character.)
A natural white wine dessert from muscatel is produced in garrafon glass bottles in the Languedoc section. GettyGetty
Influenced by the sea and other waterways, mountains, soils and varying heights, the region offers many styles: still red, white and pink, and sweet grapes made by unique traditional processes. Regional specialties include the four styles of Muscat and Blanquette de Limoux which are sparkling, dry alcohol with low alcohol content which are mainly made from Mauzac grapes (and the first grapes produced with bubbles). In a ascending manner defining the Provencal lifestyle, Picpoul de Pinet, white AOC white wine with maritime influence, do the same for the Languedoc.
The AOC denominations known here include Corbières, Faugères, La Clape, Minervois and Saint-Chinian. And in the larger AOC Languedoc denominations there are several sub-districts with their own distinctive styles, such as wild and exotic wines and driven by Tamar La Liviniere (Cru) and Terrasses du Larzac (Grand Vin).
Experimental infusion and experience.
The Languedoc attracted winemakers from prestigious regions such as Joseph Helfrich, owner of the Grands Chais de France, who had interests in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire and Alsace, and who owned Domaine de la Baume in Servian.
"It's easier to do what you want to do in the south, this is creativity," said Solange Dremiere, an enologist trained in Bordeaux, a wine maker at De la Baume. "I don't want to go back to Bordeaux and make wine like other people do. They say, I think the Languedoc will do more, better wine with personality."
Eric Fabre (left) and his son Vianney from Château d'Anglès.Ken Payton
Eric Fabre, owner of Chateau d'Anglès at La Clape, agrees. The former Château Lafite Rothschild technical director in the Médoc region in Bordeaux bought 45 hectares of land in 2001, working with traditional red and white wine in the Rhone style.
He said that part of his reason for emigrating to the south was because "I always fought against the style of wood and Parker's strength." It is easier to make wine that is drunk faster than that which requires aging. "
Given that the offerings in the region were "abundant for almost a century," he said, "the Americans started from the beginning with their knowledge of the Languedoc and would be surprised by both the environment, the community and the vineyards."
Bordelaise is not the only wine maker that has found new limits in the Languedoc. The Outsiders are a group of 12 producers from seven European countries, the US. Law. New Zealand and other parts of France, which have moved to the region specifically to utilize their own terroir and creativity. This group includes winemakers, but also people from other careers that range from media and education to marketing and business.
"I am pretty sure that the people in that group and others like them came to the Languedoc-Roussillon because, to some extent, this is like Wild West: this is a place where you can be creative, bend the rules a bit, leave you alone." Louise Hurren London's transplant and public relations specialists who founded the group in 2010, said Louise Hurren.
Some of the 12 "Outsiders" in the Languedoc. From left to right: Jon Bowen (Domaine Sainte Croix), Brigitte Chevalier (Domaine de Cébène), Robin and Liz Williamson (Domaine de Saumarez), John and Nicola Bojanowski (Le Clos du Gravillas), Graham Nutter (Chateau St Jacques d ' Albas), Cyril Bourgne (The Madura) Ken Payton
They joined visionary visionaries like Laurent Calmel and Joseph of Calmel + Joseph. France set up their small popularity in 1995 to specialize in lower vineyards with a special focus on native grapes in very fresh terroirs. José compared his philosophy with the philosophy of Rhône or Burgundy.
Although making wine in an area where half the market is large, he said: "There is no style in the Languedoc".
"Americans think we should do with tongs and value, but this is a paradise for winemakers where you can show terroir with very different wines," he said.
Loading...
Loading...
