IGP Pays d'Hérault
The heart of Languedoc
Super Hérault
IGP Pays d’Hérault stems from several thousand years of winegrowing traditions. Today, it is enjoying well-earned success – mirroring that of the entire Languedoc wine region – with wines that aim high in terms of quality, but remain very accessible.
Foundation
August 1
2009
Territory
77
villages
Production
366 530 hL
Producers
558 independent wineries,
55 co-operatives and
128 wine merchants.
Colours
Red
52%
Rosé
42%
White
6%
Main grape varieties
authorized for the reds
Carignan
Cinsault
Mourvèdre
Syrah
Grenache
Main grape varieties
authorized for the rosés
Carignan
Cinsault
Syrah
Grenache
Caladoc
Main grape varieties
authorized for the whites
Sauvignon blanc
Chardonnay
Vermentino
Colombard
Grenache blanc
terroir
Inevitably, with such a large footprint, variety is one of the key words for understanding IGP Pays d’Hérault. The complex geological history, range of elevations and varying distances from the sea are the essential factors that contribute to this diversity, as much in terms of soils and sub-soils as the climate.
There are relatively significant differences in rainfall, diurnal shift and influence of the wind, which includes the Tramontane and the Mistral. There is no standard style of wine but rather shared characters: site-expressiveness is very authentic and winegrowers now aim for balance, with little inclination to bottle wines that are too alcoholic.
History
The emergence of this region, which is particularly conducive for growing vines, predates the arrival of the Romans. Before them, the Phocaeans and the Phoenicians had already established vines in the area. In the 19th century, vineyards enjoyed an unprecedented boom due to the railway which facilitated transportation of the wines. Over the past twenty or thirty years, Languedoc wines have experienced a quantum leap in quality.