Grape Vine
Languedoc
The beautiful, sunny South of France produces a myriad of red wines and the Languedoc contains some of the wines that most epitomise the area. They are full bodied but soft round the edges, a bit rustic, like the region itself but so flavoursome.
Rustic charm:
Food friendly:
Availability:
Barbecue Friendly:
Impress a wine snob:
What you need to know
These wines warm your cockles, and seem to work on a crisp Autumnal day just as well as in the baking summer.
Because of all the lovely sunshine the flavours are rich and ripe, the tannins and alcohol big but soft and to top it off you often get a whiff of the ‘garrigue’ the herbaceous scrub land that surrounds the vineyards.
Most wines from the Languedoc are blended from a mixture of local grapes like Carignan and more well known grapes like Grenache.
The area contains a range of appellations, Fitou, Minervois, Corbieres, St Chinian and Pic St Loup to name but a few. They all differ but have enough similarities to group them together.
There is also an AC Languedoc (not a football team) but a catch all appellation, a bit like Côtes du Rhône.
Food wise they work particularly well grilled and charred meat or vegetables and anything with take no prisoners herby marinades.
Recommended
Domaine des Terres Falmet
Like a crisp winter's day this juicy red, from the Languedoc region in the South of France, balances exhilarating freshness with a deeply satisfying red wine glow. Whereas some wines are technical and refined this has a natural bounce, flavours of blackcurrant and berries combine with a delicious rosemary garrigue character. As I sniffed and swirled (I really didn't want the bottle to end) I really enjoyed the scents of the South of France. After a trip to the Farmer's Market on Saturday I managed to rustle up a rather scrummy game pie with (home made!!) puff pastry. This was the perfect match, although it may have worked just as well with pizza or herby sausages and mash.
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