AOP Languedoc La Méjanelle

Located on the outskirts of the city of Montpellier,
this appellation deserves a visit for its history and its wines but also for its architectural heritage. No visit to the region would be complete without a stop here!

Foundation

1985

Territory

villages

Production

10 HA

Producers

3 independent wineries,

1co-operative.

Colours

red

100%

Main grape varieties

authorized for the reds

syrah

grenache

mourvèdre

carignan

cinsault

morrastel

for more information:

www.languedoc-aoc.com/fr/aoc-languedoc-la-mejanelle

Terroir

Flying in the face of urban sprawl, fifteen or so winegrowers – three of them farming as independent wineries – continue to allow vineyards to thrive on lands where bishops once produced renowned fleshy, intense wines suffused with spice. Though all the same colour – red – winegrowers can draw from a range of six grape varieties, starting with the Grenache-Mourvèdre-Syrah trio then moving on to Carignan, Cinsault and the rarer Morrastel.

All of them are planted on an ancient Villafranchian terrace with its red clay soils strewn with pebbles, forcing the vines to put down vertical roots in search of the modicum of resources located well below the surface to produce cleanly crafted wines. ‘Sandwiched’, as it were, between the city and the sea, this singular vineyard location also stands out for its climate which is admittedly hot, but moderated by the nearby Mediterranean.

History

Another defining feature is its architecture. Travelling through the Languedoc-La Méjanelle appellation area also offers an opportunity to discover a few ‘follies’. These lavish residences were built by local dignitaries in the 18th century in the countryside surrounding Montpellier and some remarkable examples of them are still standing today.