Languedoc AOCs wine - Conseil interprofessionnel des vins du Languedoc

Languedoc AOC wines: highly-coloured wines !

Enriched by its eighteen different wine types, the Languedoc region proposes a palette of whites, rosés and reds, portraying all shades and perfumes. Hence, in the Languedoc, each dish has found its wine, or its wines. Their variety provides them a with multitude of qualities, enabling them to accompany the grand tables of French gastronomy, that simple dish of the day, or a relaxing moment among friends.

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Recipe for a Languedoc AOC red wine	Recipe for a Languedoc AOC rosé wine	Recipe for a Languedoc AOC white wine	Recipe for a sweet or sparkling Languedoc AOC
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Red wines

Character red wines : aromas, some of which matured in oak barrels and require decanting before tasting.

Which AOCs are those such wines?
Minervois, Saint-Chinian, Corbières, Faugères, etc.*
* examples only

Tasting :

color : purple, almost black

the nose : incredible aromatic intensity

the mouth : originating from mature vines having a low yield, often matured in the best oak barrels, with powerful nectars, full of flavour and tannins, to be decanted several hours before tasting.

Suitable dishes:
Roasts, game in sauce, blue cheese, gourmet salads (giblets, liver), chocolate desserts, etc.

Ideal temperature :to be served between 14 and 16°C

Fruity red wines :supple and fruity, these red wines express aromas of violet flower, Morello cherries or soft liquorice.

Which AOCs are those such wines ?
Languedoc, Corbières, Cabardès, Minervois, etc.*
* examples only

Tasting :

color : blue-tinted ruby red

the nose :fruity and supple

the mouth : Morello cherry aromas, accompanied by violet flower or sweet liquorice

Suitable dishes ?
Light salads (Niçoise, Languedoc), herb-flavoured grills, pies (seafood), “tielle sétoise” (calmar dough pie), ratatouille, etc.

Ideal temperature : to be served between 14 and 16°C

Tip of the day
SOS red-wine stain!
For cotton fabrics, pour over white wine or sparkling water.
For table linen, plunge the stained area into boiling milk.

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Rosés wines

Fresh and savoury in the mouth, they recall red-fruit scents (strawberry, blackcurrant, cherry, etc.).

Which AOCs are those such wines ?
Languedoc, Corbières, Minervois, Saint-Chinian, etc.*
* examples only

Tasting :

color :shiny with a perfect pinkish colour

the nose : red-fruit and floral bouquet with spicy aromas

the mouth : fresh and savoury

Suitable dishes ?
Aperitif (olives, tapenades) tapas, starters, light salads, white meat, rock fish, vegetables seasoned with Provencal herbs, pizzas, etc..

Ideal temperature : be served between 8 and 10°C

Tip of the day
The mystery of the rosé wine
How to make rosé wine when using black grapes that give off white juices?
The answer is simple: the light pink colour of the wine is achieved by macerating the black grapes (treaded with their skins and pips) for a short period only, before being quickly pressed.

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White wines

Wines sometimes shiny and bright with a fresh taste, sometimes golden with notes of ripe fruit.

Which AOCs are those such wines ?
Languedoc - Picpoul de Pinet, Clairette du Languedoc, Limoux, Minervois, Corbières, etc.*
* examples only

Tasting :

color : sometimes shiny and pale, sometimes golden

the nose : floral and powerful or notes of ripe fruit

the mouth : fresh or round and elegant

Suitable dishes ?

Mediterranean cooking, fish in sauce or grilled, bouillabaisse (Marseille seafood broth), tielle sétoise (calmar dough pie), seafood, cheese (“pélardon”).

Ideal temperature : be served between 8 and 10°C

Tip of the day
White wine is prone to giving headaches? Definitely not!
Several years ago, sulphur additives were often badly proportioned and were liable to provoking headache. Since then, considerable technical progress has enabled to radically reduce such proportions.
This reputation is thus now something of the past!
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Natural and sparkling sweet wines

Sparkling wines :the bubbles from Limoux, served in flutes reveal a fine hawthorn bouquet, with apple and hazelnut.

Which AOCs are those such wines ?
Blanquette de Limoux, Crémant de Limoux, Traditional "blanquette" Method

Tasting

color : admire the trickle of fine bubbles in those elegant flutes!

the nose : a fine hawthorn bouquet, with apple and hazelnut

the mouth : simple and tender flavours

Suitable dishes ?

Aperitif, desserts (with fruit, "oreillettes" or Provencal fritters, pancakes, "galettes des rois" or Twelfth Night almond pastry), etc..

Ideal temperature : be served between 8 and 10°C

Muscats wines : these intensely aromatic wines develop yellow-fruit perfumes.

Which AOCs are those such wines ?
Frontignan, Mireval, Lunel, Saint-Jean de Minervois

Tasting :

color : golden

the nose : perfumes of nutmeg, bush peach, apricots and orange blossom

the mouth : fresh, fine and complex

Suitable dishes ?
Aperitif, foie gras, blue cheese, fruit desserts, melon, etc

Ideal temperature : be served between 5 and 6 °C

Tip of the day
Bubbles galore! How to preserve the bubbles in that bottle of Blanquette de Limoux just opened?
Store in a cool, dark place where the temperatures hardly varies. Only an airtight stopper will enable it to keep for several hours.
However, if you do not have such a stopper, you can always try Grandma's solution: the little spoon down the bottleneck!
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