WineRegionsOld WorldFranceOther French Regions
Languedoc-Roussillon (Le Midi)
These Mediterranean vineyards are gradually losing the cheap and not-so-cheerfulimage, as an increasing number of domaines begin to bottle their own trulyexpressive wines.
Wine has been produced in Languedoc-Roussillon for more than 2,000 years,but only over the last ten have its growers seen fit to produce anythingof interest apart from the unctuous vins doux naturels, once the Midi'sonly claim to fame. Urged by government schemes to upgrade their wines fromvin de table to vin de pays, a new generation of winemakersbegan to emerge in the late- 1970s. By planting better quality vines andcombining modem technology with the best traditional practices, includingthe use of some new oak, many exciting new wines filtered through to exportmarkets by the early 198O's other growers take note of the increased pricesthat can be asked for expressive wines, so more and more are turning fromselling in bulk to domaine bottling and there is a new-found pride amongstthem.
The mid-90's move of the California winery, Vichon, to the Languedoc, andits prestigious family owners, The Mondavi's, has sparked even more interestin the future of this region.