In Languedoc, the number of appellations has increased over the years. There were only a few AOC districts before the 1980s. At that time, Languedoc was more renowned for its quantity than its quality. But in the last 30 years, the designations have come in a steady stream.
The latest in the line to be approved by INAO, the authority that approves and controls appellations, is Montpeyroux. Winemakers have been working for six years to get this approval.
Montpeyroux is located just west of Montpellier. It is a small district with an area of 595 hectares and an annual production of 4,400 hectolitres of wine.
The soil is very rocky, which makes the wines suitable for ageing, according to the growers. Previously, Montpeyroux was a sub-district of the large Languedoc appellation, and the label said Languedoc-Montpeyroux. Now you can only say Montpeyroux, a recognition that may have more meaning for the growers themselves than for consumers.
The rules are becoming somewhat stricter. The four main grapes are:
- Grenache,
- Mourvèdre,
- Syrah and
- Carignan.
There are already many famous wines in Montpeyroux, for example, the skilled Alain Chabanon at the estate of the same name and the colourful Sylvain Fadat at Domaine d’Aupilhac.
Already in our first book about Languedoc (2007) we put forward Montpeyroux as a region to watch.
Read more: www.inao.gouv.fr
