The environment and wide open spaces

One cannot speak of Languedoc without highlighting the extraordinary variety of countryside, land and relief such as the succession of terraces facing the Mediterranean. Mediterranean Plaines sweep down to the sea, the plateaus and mountains form an immense natural amphitheatre where history has played for centuries in a region unlike any other for its contrasting beauties.

A countryside full of spice, as far as the eye can see; one might believe they have made this their domain, the secret Garden of perfumes.  This is passionate countryside; here wild thyme, aspic, rosemary, sage, mother-of-thyme and savoury grow wild in the hot limestone Garrigue; parsley, dill and fennel draw their strength from the permeable and cool earth.  Aromatic lands fill the air around the vineyards with fragrances: a hint of saffron, a touch of anise, a slight accent of wallflower, a fragrance of juniper form a bouquet of echoes, from appellation to appellation, in Languedoc.

Southern Languedoc coils around the Mediterranean sea, the sea spray winds have, since ancient times, lulled the bunches of grapes, caressed the vines, enriching wines with new aromas and flow along the coast where the seaside resorts flourish.

The lower countryside with its rocky outcrops, excellent viewpoints: from mount Lozere, the mount Aigoual, the Caroux gazing down at the rivers digging towards the centre of the earth, the Cevennes, the Causses, where the villages are built of stones and history, provides us with a majestic season of aromatic bouquets: wild thyme, rosemary, lavender, and a thousand other flowers spring from the thick grass like fireworks, delight of the sheep.

This torrential landscape has been sculptured into the land by the meandering rivers; the cirque de Navacelles, with its limestone giants reaching up to the blue sky above vertiginous, winding valleys, the gorges de la Jonte and underground marvels hidden by swallow holes such as the Grotte des Demoiselles.

To the west, the Corbieres form the furthest terraces, beaten by the wind, exposed to the light, this enormous wide-open space stretches from Carcassonne as far as the lagoons at the edge of the Lions gulf (golfe du Lion).

The upper valley of the Aude indicates the beginning of the higher Languedoc lands and the Pyrenees.
The Atlantic and Mediterranean influences combine giving this area a nuanced climate adding to its specific characteristics such as its granite rocks.

Conversely, Aigues-Mortes lies on a bed of sand and clay, Fort of the petite Camargue, it joins the towns of Nimes, Lunel and Beziers in the bullfighting tradition, the love of bulls and horses, rearing animals, the Camargue races and other ferias.

The contrasting variations of this Languedoc region are reflected a thousand different ways in the colours of its wines.  Robust and masculine wines from the dry massifs, full and round wines from the undulating valleys, structured wines from the terraces, lively vines from the seaside lands… each landscape creates a wine in its own image.

Source : The Languedoc-Roussillon regional committee of tourism