IGP Aude
Small river, big wine region!
Mirroring the river it is named after,
IGP Aude encapsulates the diversity and abundance of an ancient, storied wine region.
Board now for a trip along the banks of the Canal du Midi to the peaks of the Corbières.
foundation
September 13
1968
territory
433
villages
production
187 415 hL
producers
229 independent wineries
40 co-operatives
30 wine merchants
colours
red
65%
rosé
25%
white
10%
Main grape varieties
authorized for the reds
Carignan
Grenache
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Main grape varieties
authorized for the rosés
Carignan
Grenache
Cinsaut
Syrah
Merlot
Main grape varieties
authorized for the whites
Terret
Roussanne
Monerac
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
terroir
The vineyards of Aude are not just home to a variety of aspects and complex geology reflected in a broad array of soils and sub-soils – they are also defined by a dual climatic influence. The atmosphere is clearly Mediterranean near the namesake sea, with hot, dry summers and rainfall that can be extremely heavy in the spring and autumn.
But the farther West you venture, the more the climate takes on Atlantic influences, with higher rainfall. This variety of vineyard sites births a broad spectrum of wines – from fruit-focused or more powerful reds to aperitif-style or food-friendly rosés and whites with impressive exuberance.
History
Vines have been woven into the local landscape since the era when Narbonne was the capital of Rome’s ‘Gallia Narbonensis’. Its development and reputation were expedited when new communication routes were opened, most notably at the end of the 17th century when the Canal du Midi began operating, followed by the rise of the railway two centuries later.