IGP Côtes de Thau
Côtes de Thau, a sea of vines
A land of rolling hills!
Here, production of red wines pales in comparison to that of whites and rosés,
offering a great opportunity to find the perfect companions for oysters farmed in the namesake lagoon…
Foundation
August 1
2009
Territory
15
villages
production
113 770 hL
producers
18 independent wineries,
6 co-operatives and
18 wine merchants.
colours
red
7%
rosé
49%
white
44%
Main grape varieties
authorized for the reds
Alicante boucher
Lledoner pelut
Grenache
Piquepoul noir
Main grape varieties
authorized for the rosés
Alicante boucher
Lledoner pelut
Grenache
Piquepoul noir
Main grape varieties
authorized for the whites
Grenache Gris
Bourboulenc
Viognier
Carignan blanc
terroir
This is by no means the steepest, most rugged Languedoc wine region – rather, it is established over rolling, low-elevation hills. The soils are fairly light and relatively deep, spanning a variety of nuances, from red to beige and sandy-silt to sandy-clay. Another factor that defines the vineyard sites, and therefore the wines, is the climate.
The maritime setting mitigates the heat spikes typical of the Mediterranean climate, which is a blessing for producing beautifully balanced whites. Forget any images of heady Mediterranean wines on steroids – the reds and rosés focus on delicate fruit-driven harmony whilst the whites are vibrantly articulate with traces of citrus fruits, white-fleshed fruits and subtle iodine-like notes.
History
People have been settled around Thau lagoon since time immemorial, with evidence pointing back to the late Neolithic era. Over the centuries, oysters, spas, tourism and of course winegrowing have established their role as pillars of the local economy. From the 17th century onwards, the wine region – particularly the area around Marseillan – was hugely successful with its oxidative wines designed to be drunk as an aperitif. Nowadays, classic rosés and whites lead the way.