It’s Time to Tune into Languedoc-Roussillon

• By WineBottleMag
• November 14, 2025
• LanguedocRoussillon Time Tune
• With 0 comments

If the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France were its own country, it would be the fifth most productive region in the world, sandwiched between the United States and Argentina. But that statistic is about the only time that the two French regions—which amount to more than 700,000 combined acres—enjoy being tied together.

Though they’re right next door to one another, share plenty of cultural and climactic similarities, and both rely primarily on grapes also grown in the Rhône Valley, the Languedoc and Roussillon wine worlds feel fiercely independent of each other. That’s the natural result, presumably, of a tumultuous history located at one of the busiest crossroads of ancient times, where Greeks, Gauls, Romans, and Moors came and went over the millennia.

The Roussillon, which extends west from the Mediterranean Sea along the border with Spain, celebrates its proximity to the Pyrenees and its Catalan culture, evident in the ancient Cathar castles that ride high in the mountains. It’s home to 16 appellations/designations, though most wines that make it to the United States fall into the Côtes du Roussillon and Côtes Catalanes categories.

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The much larger Languedoc, meanwhile, embraces a more proudly French identity. Featuring about three dozen appellations and designations of various sizes, this veritable wine world of its own occupies a highly varied landscape of seaside plains and precarious peaks that stretches from the Roussillon and the Med northeast toward the Southern Rhône and Provence. It reaches deep enough to the northwest that some of its appellations enjoy Atlantic influence, making Bordelaise grapes preferable, albeit usually mixed with Rhônes.

It’s likely that some of those famous varieties—like Grenache and Mourvèdre—actually came from closer to the Languedoc-Roussillon than the Rhône, but that’s how they’re broadly classified these days. Most popular are those aforementioned grapes, along with Syrah and Carignan, which is more of a workhorse grape here than anywhere else in the world. Cinsault is often used to add brightness to the red wines, and all of these varieties may find their way into the region’s rosés, the most popular export.

The whites follow a similar pattern, with plenty of Marsanne, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc. There’s also a bit of Viognier and Vermentino (sometimes called Rolle), both better known elsewhere. Most exciting are the grapes that thrive more in the Languedoc and Roussillon than anywhere else, including Carignan Blanc, Bourboulenc, Clairette Blanche, and Picpoul Blanc—the latter two of which dominate their own eponymous appellations.

Stylistically, the two regions’ wines can be quite similar. The sunshine-ripened reds tend to be bold and brawny, though a growing number of producers are exploring fresher styles, sometimes outside of the appellation rules. The whites range widely in both acidity, from brisk to flat, and texture, from smooth to grippy, often depending on the proximity to the sea.

Rosé excels everywhere.

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Table of Contents

Weather Report

Plainly put, it’s always hot during the prime growing season in Languedoc-Roussillon, and it’s only getting hotter. Over the past half-decade, those high temps have been accompanied by drought conditions, as the last significant rainy season was way back in 2020. There is also the growing occurrence of wildfires, which can result in smoke taint, though that’s not a widespread problem yet.

According to producers, the quality remains high despite the hot, dry weather, thanks largely to the resilience of Grenache, which is grown throughout both Languedoc and Roussillon. The preponderance of old vines is also helpful, as their deep roots can often tap the scant water that remains.

In both the Roussillon and Languedoc, the producers speak of preserving balance in the 2021 to 2023 vintages through precision farming, increased biodynamic protocols, and strategic picking windows. These years were even instructive for innovative winemakers who are actively adapting their extraction techniques to craft lighter wines despite riper grapes.

The 2024 yield was quite small—the smallest ever in Roussillon history, in fact. But that’s led to a concentration of fruit in both regions that may prove impressive over time.

The jury is still out on 2025. Some of the Languedoc endured a severe wildfire and temperatures were scorching everywhere, which affected volume and may affect quality.

Trend Report

Sustainability Leader

The striving for sustainability is real in Languedoc-Roussillon, where there is pride about the percentage of growers who are going organic, or biodynamic, or regenerative. In the Languedoc specifically, one-third of production is organic and/or otherwise environmentally certified, and the goal is to grow that to 60% by 2028. Both small growers and multi-estate companies believe in this movement, so it is only bound to grow.

Rosé Power

Given the incredibly affordable price and the crisp, bright, juicy flavor profiles, the region’s rosés should continue to gain popularity across the globe in the years to come. The challenge is finding a market that will understand the low price does not mean low quality.

Elevation of Rare Varieties

There are a number of varieties in the Languedoc and Roussillon that just aren’t that common anywhere else. There’s Carignan Blanc (who knew?) and Lledenor Pelut (“Hairy Grenache”!), as well as grapes like Grenache Gris, Bourboulenc (popular in La Clape), and Clairette Blanche (which has its own appellation). The shining star of this all is Picpoul Blanc, which also has its own appellation. Growers there recently started a new designation called “Patience,” which involves longer lees contact to make a bolder white wine.

Futurecast

Freshness for Reds

Vignerons can’t stop talking about “freshness” for their red wines, which involves picking a bit earlier and using allowed varieties such as Cinsaut to brighten the bottlings. With climate change only intensifying, that quest will continue, so much so that appellation rules may need some updates, lest they lose their producers to less onerous designations like Vin de France.

Rising Whites and Oranges

Long a land ruled by reds (and more recently by rosé), the white wines coming out of these regions show impressive promise. The blends based on traditional Rhône varieties can be quite textural, whereas those made from Vermentino, Picpoul Blanc, and Clairette are both super and singular. The world will one day figure this out. There are also creative producers exploring various styles of orange wine, some of which are quite delicious.

More Bubbly Please

The sparkling wines produced by Languedoc’s Limoux region—which is where bubbly wine was truly discovered in the 1500s—can be quite thrilling. Given the rising appreciation of sparkling on a global scale paired with prices that are less than Champagne, this could be a strong growth category.

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What to Drink Right Now

Luxurious Reds

Even the higher-priced reds here are a deal. They rarely eclipse $70, and can deliver the layers of experience expected in much more celebrated regions.

Well-Priced Power Reds

Some of the best wines from the region cost the least, and many pack quite a powerful punch. These are all $35 or less.

Pretty in Pinks

The warm weather and sunshine ensures early, steady ripening across the Languedoc-Roussillon, making ideal conditions for perfecting rosés that are crisp and bright yet full of fruity flavors. Most are quite affordable, but there is also the most expensive rosé in the world on this list.

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Utterly Unique Whites

The Languedoc-Roussillon is home to a number of grape varieties that are either nonexistent or at least very uncommon elsewhere. Two have their own appellations—Picpoul and Clairette Blanche—while others like Carignan Blanc and Bourboulenc excel in certain terroirs. Grenache Gris is quite common in Roussillon, and Vermentino is big in coastal regions.

Expected and Exploratory Whites

Most of the region’s white wines are from varieties or blends familiar to the Rhône Valley, which can be quite textural and compelling. But the creativity doesn’t end there, as vignerons are allowed to craft boundary-breaking blends within certain designations.

Delicious Dessert Wines

Historically, much of the Languedoc-Roussillon was famous for dessert wines, which have generally become less popular with time. But places like Maury and Rivesaltes still produce some, and they’re quite good.

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• From salty whites to wild reds, why Corsican wine should be your next obsession.

The post It’s Time to Tune into Languedoc-Roussillon appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.

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