Grapes have been grown in the Languedoc since Roman times, making the region the largest and oldest vineyard in the world.  A recent history of relatively poor quality means that the regions within the Languedoc, like Minervois and Corbières, are relatively little-known in the world at large.  But that is changing fast, as investment from all round the world pours into the region to take advantage of what is generally considered to be excellent potential and perfect conditions for quality wine.

The combination of general over-production and heavy investment in both equipment and good practice means that, among the better producers, there are some of the best value products to be found in the entire world.  Good red wine compares very favourably with some of the better, more fashionable, southern-Rhône wines (like Chateauneuf du Pape, for example), but at a much lower price.

Red wine predominates with only a very small, but interesting, part of production given over to white wine, and an increasing proportion to rosé, to meet world demand for this in-vogue variety.  Indigenous grape varieties include syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, carignan and cinsaut for the reds and marsanne, roussanne and grenache blanc for the whites.  Once again, in response to global demand, there is a growing number of single varietals made outside the appellation contrôllée system, such as cabernet, merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon and viognier.

But it remains among the quality wines of the better producers of appellation wines that the gems are to be found, with an excellent range of high-quality wines in the €8 to €15 bracket.  In the Minervois, these are often to be found in the excellent sub-appellation of “Minervois La Livinière Contrôllée”, an accolade given to just a handful of the prettiest villages at the base of the Montagne Noire, just minutes’ drive from Olonzac.  Here are just a few of our favourite vignerons – I am sure you will find your own!: