The people of this region once spoke Occitan, in which one said “oc” instead of “oui” to mean “yes,” hence Langue d’Oc. Though known for making low-quality wines in vast quantity, it nevertheless offers a diverse array of grape varieties and wine styles, and many producers have begun to focus on quality in response to international competition from other exporters of very cheap wine.
The climate is Mediterranean. The workhorse grape Carignan is still the most planted here, but this is changing; Syrah, Grenache, Cinsaut, Mourvedre, and a host of international varieties are also common. The Languedoc is best-known for ripe, intense red wines like St-Chinian, Corbieres, and Faugeres, but one can also find crisp white wines made from Picpoul, sparkling wines from the region of Limoux, and an increasing number of dessert wines.
Cult producers like Mas Jullien and Mas Cal Demoura, whose wines command high prices and worldwide acclaim, are located here. For the most part, however, the fact that the world thinks of the Languedoc as a region for cheap, uninspiring wine means that those in the know can still find incredible value here by seeking out the many excellent producers.
– Description from
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