South of France (Part II): Languedoc, Roussillon & the VDN Tradition

1. Overview

The Languedoc and Roussillon stretch along France’s Mediterranean coast, from the Rhône River to the Spanish border.
Together they form France’s largest wine region, famous for sunshine, sea breezes, and an amazing variety of wines.
Today, the South of France makes everything from light whites and rosés to rich reds and sweet fortified wines.

2. Climate and Landscape

• Climate: hot, sunny, and dry — very different from northern France.
• Winds: the Tramontane keeps vines healthy by blowing away moisture.
• Soils: a mix of limestone, clay, and stony ground.
• Result: grapes ripen easily, giving ripe fruit flavours and smooth textures.

3. Main Grapes

Red grapes:

• Grenache Noir – ripe red fruit and spice; main grape in blends.
• Syrah – adds colour and peppery notes.
• Mourvèdre – dark, full-bodied wines.
• Carignan & Cinsault – used in both reds and rosés.

White grapes:

• Picpoul Blanc – crisp, lemony, high-acid wines.
• Vermentino (Rolle) – herbal and citrusy.
• Grenache Blanc & Bourboulenc – rounder, softer whites.
• Muscat – very aromatic, used for sweet wines.

4. Main Wine Styles

• Languedoc AOC: big, warm red blends of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (often called GSM).
• Picpoul de Pinet: light, refreshing white — perfect with seafood.
• Minervois & Corbières: full reds with spice and herbs.
• Crémant de Limoux: sparkling wine made in the same way as Champagne.
• La Clape & Pic Saint-Loup: higher-quality crus showing freshness and minerality.

5. Roussillon & Sweet Wines

Roussillon, near Spain, is the hottest and driest part of France.
It makes powerful reds and also famous fortified sweet wines, called Vin Doux Naturel (VDN).
These are made by adding grape spirit during fermentation to keep some natural sweetness.

Key examples:

• Banyuls & Maury – rich, dark, Port-style reds.
• Muscat de Rivesaltes – golden, floral, and served chilled.

6. Summary

The South of France is sunny, colourful, and full of variety.
From crisp whites like Picpoul de Pinet to the sweet wines of Roussillon, it offers great value and a taste of the Mediterranean in every glass.