methods, shape Languedoc

methods, shape Languedoc AOCs, producing structured, full-bodied wines. Among the 23 Languedoc appellations that unfurl across 40,000 hectares of vineyards, no two wines are alike. The only common denominator since antiquity is the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean is to thank for the mild, bright winters, the russet of hot, dry summers, the fragrance of scrubland and the winds carrying the sea air. Nestled in the heart of the region of Languedoc-Roussillon the wine appellation Saint-Chinian (AOC Saint-Chinian) is one of the best areas for wine. Spread across some 3,300 hectares and home to 450 wine producers including 110 wineries and 8 cooperatives, there are rich pickings here for the wine connoisseur with an abundance of different grapes, blends and processes. Historically producing reds and rosés but more recently producing classified whites too, whether you’re a serious and informed wine drinker or just an enthusiast starting out on your wine journey – the wines of Saint-Chinian are really pretty much unbeatable. And what about the area? Languedoc takes in the Roman town of Nîmes, with hints of the Camargue and the Cévennes. The arty city of Montpellier with its historical heritage and Béziers, a town that has endured 27 centuries of history peppered with periods of prosperity, revolt and massacre. Narbonne, described as a little Rome, and unforgettable Carcassonne, boasting the biggest medieval fortress-town in Europe. It can get very hot here in the summer months. Autumns and springs are mild, although morning frosts are sometime seen into the month of April. Winters are mild and sunny with temperatures barely dipping below 0°C. Rainfall levels are low (among the lowest in France in some communes) and the Tramontane wind is omnipresent, drying the vines and warding off disease. It is an ideal climate for growing vines. But the Mediterranean’s grasp is reduced in the far west of the region, in the appellations of Cabardès and Malepère in particular, where the climate here is transitional: the mild Atlantic meets the intense Mediterranean. And the terroir (that impossible to translate French word which refers to the soil and growing conditions) differs vastly across the region, depending on ancient geological formations. In some parts terraces of smooth pebbles, sandstone and marl, in others you’ll find limestone and shale, clay soil, pudding stone, sandy soil, molasses, etc. It gives wines grown here unique qualities and a whole range of very different tastes, with countless aromatic variations – sometimes even within the same appellation. The soils play a very important role because they dictate what grape varietal is grown, you see grapes are very picky about heat and water retention and have very demanding preferences on what kind of soil type they like best! And because of the large array of soil types, Languedoc-Roussillon can offer many different wines to please every sipper. Shop Wines from Languedoc with SomMailier.com, the French Wine Club in the USA, and get 10% off your first order with the code TGLF2022 108 | The Good Life France Photo: © Caroline Faccioli

Did you know: Ask the Wine Man… Why should you store wine on its side? It’s a good question. After all, go into most shops and you’ll see the vast majority of bottles of wine standing upright on the shelf. The answer is simple – wine stored on its side keeps longer – if it has a cork stopper. In a shop, it’s assumed that there will be rapid turnover and therefore it’s considered ok to stand it up which makes it easier for shoppers to see and buy. But at home, you might not drink it straight away. In fact you might intend to keep it for months or much longer. And if that bottle has a cork stopper, then the cork can dry out, then it will shrivel, dry out and start breaking, which lets in air and ruins the wine you’ve been waiting to enjoy. If the wine has a screw-cap top or plastic stopper, which is increasingly common these days. There’s no need to store the bottle on its side. However it’s sealed, you should store your wine in the dark as much as possible as UV rays from sunlight can damage wine’s flavors and aromas! Santé! Cheers! Laurent, AKA the Wine Man, SomMailier.com The ONLY Authentic French Wine Club in the U.S. The Perfect Gift: Exclusive Boutique French wines! somMailier.com The Good Life France | 109