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| Courtesy of Wikipedia Click on the map for a larger image |
You don’t have to go very far in Languedoc Roussillon to find a good ‘degustation’ where you can sample some of the wonderful varieties of Red, White, Rose and Sparkling wines of the region.
It is after all the biggest wine producing region of the world consisting of around 700,000 acres and it produces around 30% of the total wine production of France.
The most prominent grape varieties used in the region include some very well known international varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc, and Chardonnay but you will find traditional Rhône grapes like Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah, and Viognier are also quite prominent. Particularly as the Rhône is a near neighbour of Languedoc Roussillon.
Many people will know about Champagne from the Champagne region in the north east of France, but not everyone will know that Blanquette de Limoux, a white sparkling wine is credited by local historians with being the first sparkling white wine in the world and it is believed to have been developed by Benedictine monks around 1531, many years before Champagne became prominent.
To be honest I don’t think that the locals are too worried about the Champagne region getting all the glory, because Blanquette de Limoux is a lovely alternative to Champagne and doesn’t carry anywhere near the price tag of its posh cousin from the north.
So where can you get a taste of some of these wonderful wines? Here is a list of some of the better wine domaines and caves in easy striking distance of Carcassonne:
- Chateau de Pennautier
- Caves Anne de Joyeuse
- Caves du Sieur d’Arques
- Domaine Castel-Negre
- Domaine Gayda
Your other options are of course just to head off into wine country, you can take a drive out towards the medieval cities of Minerve or Lagrasse and before you know it, not only will you be experiencing some of the most beautiful scenery in Languedoc Roussillon, you will be inundated with lots of different ‘degustations’ offering wines of all varieties from Corbieres and the Minervois. Plus with the handy map above you should be able to navigate to a few other choice appelations, no matter where you are in Languedoc Roussillon.