AOP Languedoc Sommières

Located in the far northern part of the Languedoc wine region,
this appellation is just as dynamic as its regional counterparts. In fact, it is most probably one of their driving forces.

Foundation

2011

Territory

villages

Production

93 HA

Producers

15 independent wineries,

3 co-operatives.

Colours

red

100%

Main grape varieties

authorized for the reds

syrah

grenache

mourvèdre

carignan

cinsault

for more information:

www.languedoc-sommieres-aoc.com

Terroir

Here, vines put down roots in soils dating from the Secondary and Tertiary periods, a mixture of stones on hard limestone, soft limestone, marl, scree and flint clay. The climate is of course Mediterranean, defined by its exceptional sunshine, the Mistral wind which blows regularly and the occasional maritime breeze which buffets the lower foothills of the Cevennes. This part of Languedoc is a faithful snapshot of what is happening in other areas across the region.

Here too, sustainable winegrowing is gaining traction with countless estates committed to environmentally-friendly techniques. Winegrowers are increasingly asserting their focus on quality and their determination to craft wines that mirror their southerly origins yet also show hallmark balance and freshness. But such expertise deserves to be publicised and the appellation increasingly organises wine tourism events – especially in the summer – to showcase its achievements.

History

In its beautiful unspoilt countryside, where the garrigue brushes shoulders with olive trees and truffle oaks, vines have been a part of the scenery since earliest Antiquity. Over the centuries, the fortunes of its vineyards – which fan out around Sommières, one of the region’s pivotal trading hubs – have waxed and waned. It came back from the brink of demise when, at the end of the 19th century, phylloxera almost sounded its death knell. The voracious aphid fatefully worked its way through the vineyards, ‘shrinking’ them from 562 to just 15 hectares! Like elsewhere, its winegrowers fought tooth and nail to rebuild them and the present-day appellation forms a circle twenty kilometres in diameter in the far north-eastern corner of Languedoc.