AOP Grés de Montpellier
the "capital city" appellation!
From the immediate outskirts of Montpellier to the most southerly foothills of the Cevennes,
this young appellation is a genuine crowd-pleaser, and not just for its stellar quality red wines.
Foundation
2024
Territory
45
villages
Production
420 HA
Producers
55 independent wineries,
4 co-operatives.
Colours
Red
100%
Main grape varieties
authorized for the reds
syrah
grenache
mourvèdre
carignan
cinsault
morrastel
for more information:
www.gres-de-montpellier.comTerroir
The region not only boasts amazing geography, ranging from valley floors to hillsides, and a rich history, its primary attribute is its felicitous clay and limestone-marl soils. In Occitan, ‘grés’ means poor, stony hillsides, the ideal location for growing vines.
Against this dry, sunny Mediterranean backdrop, more than sixty producers craft red wines – and nothing but – mainly from the region’s three star varieties that are Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. This may not be Languedoc’s most high-profile appellation, but it can certainly put forward a compelling case to reach out to an even wider audience.
History
It may well be the youngest appellation to hit the Languedoc scene, but it was not born yesterday. Evidence of vine growing in the region dates back to the 5th century BC, well before Montpellier was established. The Romans developed vineyards followed, a few centuries later, by the Benedictines and the Cistercians. Valmagne Abbey, founded in 1138 and surrounded to this day by its spectacular vineyards, is one of the most remarkable vestiges of this history. It is also one of the highlights of myriad examples of viticultural architecture dotted across the stunning countryside. These include remarkable chateaux – also referred to as Montpellier follies – most of them built between the 14th and the 17th centuries, like Château de l’Engarran in Saint-Georges-d’Orques and Château de Flaugergues, located within the city limits.