Languedoc Is France’s Most Underrated Wine Area

I actually didn’t know a lot about France’s Languedoc wine area earlier than I traveled there final October. Now, I can’t open a restaurant’s wine menu with out instantly looking for Languedoc wines — perhaps as a result of ingesting them takes me again to heat, sunny days sipping them in verdant vineyards and sidewalk eating places, perhaps as a result of I simply get actually excited to see wines from this underrated area more and more getting their due. 

The Languedoc stretches from Provence to the Pyrenees, and vineyards profit from Mediterranean sea breezes and soils wealthy with clay, limestone, schist and granite. Native grape varieties like grenache, syrah, mourvèdre, carignan, cinsault, picpoul, vermentino and viognier are utilized in abundance. Languedoc has been traditionally identified for producing nice worth wines, however particularly in recent times, that undoubtedly doesn’t imply low-quality — in truth, I’ve but to come back throughout a Languedoc wine that I don’t like. 

Whether or not you’re trying to test an incredible wine vacation spot off your listing or are merely craving a vacation within the South of France, right here’s all over the place to remain, eat and, in fact, drink in Languedoc.

The place to Wine

There are such a lot of wonderful Languedoc wineries, so that is solely a small listing of the vineyards you possibly can go to throughout a visit. Right here they’re damaged down by city, however throughout my go to, we by no means drove greater than an hour between estates, and infrequently they’re 10 to twenty minutes aside.

Pezénas 

Domaine Monplézy

This vineyard is positioned in Pézenas (the place we advocate staying throughout your Languedoc journey, extra on that later), so it’s a must-visit. The Sutra de Germa-Gil household has been making wine for 4 generations, and you may strive their scrumptious bottlings throughout a weekday afternoon go to to the tasting room.

Montagnac

Domaine La Croix Gratiot

This vineyard is located between the Bassin de Thau (a string of lagoons that stretch alongside the French coast) and the clay-limestone hills the place they develop 30 hectares of grapes. They provide free excursions and tastings and infrequently host occasions like concert events. Attempt the Le Chant des Dolia, a silky, minerally GSM (grenache, syrah and mourvèdre mix) with notes of purple fruits and black pepper.

Domaine de Campaucels

Followers of dry, high-acid whites will love picpoul, and Domaine de Campaucels makes considered one of our favourite bottles. You may even choose to guide a keep on the vineyard’s thirteenth century house, which options an out of doors kitchen so you possibly can prepare dinner a meal among the many century-old pines. Be looking out for reside music and different occasions.

Mas Du Novi

This property has been producing wine for the reason that eleventh century, and their 42 hectares of natural vineyards are a number of the most picturesque we’ve seen. Mas Du Novi’s cellar is open seven days per week with no appointment crucial, so cease by to style their wonderful wines and discover the grounds (which features a very outdated and quaint chapel).

Château Saint-Martin de la Garrigue

A Renaissance château, olive groves and plush grounds accompany greater than 50 winery plots that develop 18 grape varieties at Château Saint-Martin de la Garrigue. Not solely are you able to go to for a tasting and a chew, you may as well guide the property for particular occasions.

Cabrières

Clos du Temple

A part of the Gérard Bertrand wine portfolio, Clos du Temple is targeted on one factor: making among the best rosés on this planet. The mix of grenache, cinsault, syrah and mourvèdre is aged in new French oak, and the easiest way to strive it’s in-person on the verdant hillside winery. 

Caux

Domaine Allegria

Situated a couple of 10 minute drive from Pézenas, this beautiful property is value a go to to strive Allegria’s  mourvèdre and syrah blends like Tribu du Volcan and La Belle Histoire. It’s also possible to guide a sundown dinner, that includes a home-cooked meal with wine pairings (oui, s’il vous plait!).

Mas Gabriel 

Additionally a brief drive from Pézenas, this natural winery grows 6.5 hectares of vines on basalt and clay-limestone soils. They’re open for tastings by appointment Monday to Friday and for walk-ins on Saturday. Don’t miss the Champs des Bleuets, a vibrant, balanced mix of vermentino, grenache blanc and grenache gris.

Murviel-lès-Béziers

Terre des Dames

Winemaker Lidewij van Wilgen is initially from Amsterdam, however she studied oenology and viticulture in France and has been the proprietor and winemaker of Terre des Dames since 2002. It’s a household affair, as her three daughters grew up on the property and at the moment are concerned within the enterprise. Her rosés are particularly beautiful, which you’ll strive throughout their Tuesday summer time tastings in English (and Thursdays in Dutch).

Villeveyrac

Abbaye de Valmagne

Not solely is that this historic monument (it was based in 1139) some of the lovely abbeys in France, it’s additionally one of many oldest vineyards in Languedoc. Abbey excursions and wine tastings are provided year-round, and the on-site restaurant Vigneron options meats and cheeses from native producers and produce from their natural vegetable backyard. 

The place to Eat

Côté Mas

A 12-minute drive from Pézenas, this restaurant and guesthouse from Jean-Claude Mas is on the coronary heart of Domaine Mas, which covers 150 hectares of vineyards. The multi-course lunch and wine pairing is the transfer, and afterwards you possibly can tour the vineyards on horseback or buggy. In case you’d fairly come for dinner and may’t bear to go away, two beautiful visitor rooms (with a swimming pool, besides) can be found for lease.

Assiette d’Anatole

Located on a captivating facet road in Pézenas, Assiette d’Anatole serves regional French specialties, a lot of that are cooked on their wood-fired grill. Additionally they have an awesome listing of AOP Languedoc Pézenas wines to pair with the scrumptious meals.

Le Pré Saint Jean

Chef Jean-Michel Sempé leads the staff at Le Pré Saint Jean, the place beautifully-plated dishes style nearly as good as they appear. Suppose an artichoke tartlet with foie gras and truffles, and line-caught hake risotto with fennel and aniseed mussel jus — délicieux!

Trinque Fougasse O’Sud

This full of life restaurant in Montpellier incorporates a wine tasting bar — merely ask the bartender to pattern the wines you need to strive, then buy by the glass or bottle to your desk. Order platters of cheese, charcuterie, grilled veggies, meat and seafood, and sweets to pair together with your choice.

Broc Café

Situated throughout the road from Montpellier’s Jardin des Plantes, this in style restaurant is thought for its bowls, burgers and cocktails. Even a wet day doesn’t cease locals from gathering underneath awnings and umbrellas to benefit from the all-day cafe.

Atelier & Co.

Shellfish lovers have to go to this waterfront oyster farm and restaurant, the place you possibly can dine on mussels and oysters, recent from the Bassin de Thau. Don’t neglect a glass of the area’s picpoul de pinet, which pairs completely with seafood. 

The place to Keep

Courtyard Montpellier

When embarking in your Languedoc journey, you’ll seemingly should fly out and in of Montpellier from Paris or elsewhere in Europe. In case you resolve to remain an evening or two within the metropolis (which it is best to as a result of it’s nice), Courtyard Montpellier affords trendy rooms with a fantastic pool and good restaurant (the breakfast is very beautiful). 

Garrigae Distillerie de Pézenas 

Pézenas is a perfect house base for a visit to Languedoc, and this former distillery has been remodeled into a captivating lodge. Lots of the rooms characteristic kitchens and balconies, which makes it really feel such as you’re staying in somebody’s nation house. Breakfast is served within the parlor each morning, and the pool, spa and wine bar are there that will help you unwind after a day of tasting.