TASTE LANGUEDOC, TASTE ADVENTURE ‘ Leurs Vins Pour Notre Temps’ Training Presentation Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Why Languedoc? • History: Oldest Wine Culture in France • Diversity: Soil, Varieties, Traditions • Consistency and Quality: no, seriously! • Trend Leaders: Rosé and Organic Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Key Points Some of the oldest wine regions in Europe • • Sète – Ancient fishing village, vineyards have been in the area for thousands of years Source of Innovation and Progressive Thought • • Sparkling Wine – Limoux, 1544 (sorry Dom Pérignon) • Gosset, oldest Champagne house founded 1584 Mutage developed in 12 th century in Montpellier • • Arnaud de Villeneuve • Many wine techniques were “invented” in Languedoc; home to one of the oldest universities in Europe • University of Toulouse 1229 AD • Techniques to manage: hydric stress, fermentation temperature control, resistant varieties and rootstocks… • Social Responsibility and equality • Cathars - didn’t eat meat, didn’t believe in church buildings, regarded men and women as equals… 12 th – 14 th century! Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Key Points Largest Quality Wine Region in the world • • Approximately 1.4 million hectoliters produced in 2018 (of AOC wines) • Roughly 15.5 million 9L cases • 1/3 of all French wine is from Languedoc-Roussillon Climate is consistent and relatively stable • • Low rainfall, cooling winds, and long growing season from proximity to the Mediterranean • 320 days of sunshine per year, average temperature 15°C/59°F • Rosé Takes Center Stage • +25% in rosé winemaking in the past two years - Languedoc is the leading producer of rosé in France • Accounts for 30% of total French rosés and 11% of the world’s production. Greatest Number of French Organic Vineyards • • 29% of all French Organic Vineyards, 6% of global Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Key Points • The Rise of Languedoc Rosé • An increase in production of +68% in two years time • Languedoc is the new first name is rosé! Rosé production (in hL) from the AOCs of Languedoc 62% = Production share of the regional AOC Languedoc appellation Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Key Points Organic Leaders • • Currently the largest organic vineyard area in France, over 22k hectares • Thinking long term, planning for the future The 10 Year Plan Now Largest amount of French 29% of all 6% of vineyard area French currently in global conversion organic organic viticulture viticulture (5,829 ha) 60% of surfaces 40% of producers Double the committed to the with some form of amount of process of high value organic sustainable certification, such vineyard area development as Terra Vitis Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Location, Influences Sunshine, Winds, Little Rainfall and Geological Diversity Cevennes Mtns ‘ Tramontane ’ Wind Mediterranean Sea Pyrenees Mtns ‘Marin’ Wind Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Diversity Within Mountain 5 Main Zones: Elemental Languedoc • Mountain – more continental climates, the north of the region, often resembles Rhône in Center profile and structure • Coastal – strong Mediterranean influence, abundant sunshine, more lush, riper styles of Coastal wine • South – closest to Roussillon AOCs, larger amounts of Carignan • Center – heart of the region, flatter land, more South West volume production • West – mix of continental and Atlantic influences, most sparkling wines found here, higher elevation and more diverse meso- and microclimates Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Production and Styles • 93% of wines are still Production breakdown of • the Languedoc AOP wines 5% sparkling: Mauzac, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir • 2% fortified: Muscats • 74% of still wines are red 10% • Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, 16% Blanc Carignane, Cinsault, Cinsault … • 16% of still wines are rosé Rosé • 10% of still wines are white • Piquepoul, Grenache Blanc, 74% Rouge Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne , Viognier… Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Regional Breakdown • Designations: • AOP: Appellation d’Origine Protegée = AOP about 14% of region’s total production 14% (many still use AOC) • IGP: Indication Geographique Protegée = about 60% of production • IGP The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL) represents the 60% AOPs and IGPs - But NOT IGP Pays d’Oc • Within the AOP segment, Languedoc is seeing an ongoing evolution of appellations and designations 26% Vins SANS Indication Geographique (ex-Vins de Table) = Vin de France Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Prevailing Terroirs Grès / sandstone Calcaires / Galets roulés / limestones rolled pebbles Schistes/shales Molasses Sandy-clay and clay- limestone soils Generally poor soils, well drained, allows for strong and deep root systems. In general, the darker the soil, the more dense and structured the wine will be. Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Misunderstandings “Languedoc is the Wine Lake” • • Previously known for producing large quantities of wine, new AOC/IGP/Crus help to promote quality image “Affordable = Cheaply Made” • • Majority of Languedoc AOC wines are made in styles and using techniques that are celebrated in more “traditional quality” regions “Wines Are Not Specific to Region They Come From” • • Garrigue: Mix of herbs that grow wild in the region: rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender, juniper • Soils are diverse and revealed in the quality wines “Nobody Cares About Vineyards in the South” • • ~30% of France’s organic wine comes from Languedoc Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Misunderstandings Evolution – the number of scores for Languedoc AOC wines given by the Wine Advocate • • 25 fold increase in 5 years • Publication now dedicated to reviewing the wines annually Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Selling Points Why should you and your customers choose Languedoc Wines? • Features and Benefits • Fast growing category → strong interest in the category, consumers are seeking these out as the new ‘discoveries’ • Mediterranean influence → Consistency from year to year • Great QPR → consumers will find quality in each bottle • Innovative, dynamic region → exciting, authentic wine choices (discoveries) that integrate tradition and modernity Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Selling points More reasons to choose Languedoc • Blanquette and Crémant de Limoux are traditional method, sparkling wines (Champagne quality) at much more approachable prices • Languedoc’s rosé wines offer Provence style for more approachable prices. • Discovery - Whites and reds offer new grapes and blends for consumers to enjoy • ~30% of all of France’s organic viticulture comes from Languedoc Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: The Pitch What to focus on if you have - 30 seconds with a customer: • Languedoc, South of France produces wines of all styles and colors: reds, whites, rosés, sparkling and sweet wines • Proximity to the Mediterranean Sea means vintage consistency, lush flavor profiles, and an abundance of organic production • Key grapes from the region are ones you might already know like Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre • AOC segment represents top quality Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: The Pitch What to focus on if you have - 2 minutes with a customer: • Languedoc, South of France produces wines of all styles and colors: reds, whites, rosés, sparkling and sweet wines • Majority of production is red blends • Languedoc is also largest producer of French rosé, similar in style to rosés from Provence • Mediterranean climate allows for greater vintage consistency than other areas of France • Also means an abundance of organic production • Key grapes from the region are ones you might already know like Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. • Plus new grapes like Piquepoul – a white wine • And some of the first sparkling wines in France • AOC segment represents top quality • Wines showcase notes of garrique (blend of wild herbs: rosemary, thyme, sage), which you cook with, making these wines great food partners Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Key Appellations Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
Languedoc: Keys Appellations What are some of the AOCs (AOPs) most commonly seen in the US market? • AOC Languedoc (long-dock) • Corbières (cor-bee-air) and Corbières Boutenac • Faugères (fowj-air) • Fitou (fee-too) • La Clape (la clap) • Limoux (lee-moo) – Blanquette (blonk-ette) or Crémant (cray-mont) • Minervois (min-er-vwah) and Minervois la Livinière • Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois • Picpoul de Pinet (peek-pool duh pee-nay) • Pic Saint Loup (peek-san-loo) • Saint-Chinian (san shin-ee-an), Roquebrun and Berlou • Terrasses du Larzac (tear-ahs doo lar-zak) Visit us at LanguedocAdventure.com
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