The sun-soaked South of France is a wine region full of hidden gems. From the Languedoc on the Mediterranean coast to the Southern Rhône Valley that winds along the Rhône River, there are great wines and incredible values to be found throughout!
Languedoc-Roussillon
The region of Languedoc-Roussillon sits along the Mediterranean coast amongst craggy cliff sides overlooking the sea. The Languedoc (pronounced long-eh-dock), in particular, is a region known for its value-driven wines. It is the oldest, and perhaps one of the most underrated, wine growing regions in France. The wineries here are ever-evolving and are also some of the more technologically advanced wineries in the country. Producing a third of all French wines, Languedoc is the largest wine producing region in the country.
With over 300 days of sunshine, grapevines thrive in this Mediterranean climate. With hot, dry summers, mild winters and cool ocean breezes, Languedoc is a haven for producing fully ripened grapes for a variety of wines, including red, white, and sparkling. The wines are generally fresh, fruity and easy drinking. The trend here, however, has been to evolve the well known inexpensive wines into more sophisticated profiles.
One great example of a classic Languedoc wine is 90+ Cellars Lot 21 French Fusion red blend. This is a fruit forward wine aged in stainless steel, and made at an historic winery committed to sustainable practices. Featuring a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grown on hillsides of the Cevennes mountains, the wine bursts with intense notes of blackberries and plums and lingering hints of violets and dried lavender. It’s a delicious wine on its own, or served alongside pulled pork sliders or a charcuterie board. We recommend giving it a little chill before serving!
Another wine that thrives in this Mediterranean climate is 90+ Cellars Lot 219 Picpoul de Pinet. This white wine benefits from the warm sunshine and the cool coastal sea breezes. Piquepoul Blanc is often referred to as “lip stinger,” a nickname it gets from the bright and zesty acidity associated with the crisp white wines it produces. Fresh, citrusy, and floral, I can’t think of a better wine to sip alongside your oyster platter on a warm summer day!
Interested in learning more about Picpoul de Pinet? Check out our article here!
Southern Rhône Valley
Traveling a bit further north from the Languedoc, but still benefiting from the Mediterranean climate, is the Southern Rhône Valley. There, rolling hills from the north start to flatten out. The star here is the later ripening Grenache grape. Although it is widely planted around the world, Grenache is truly able to ripen fully in the bright sun of this region. The end result is wines with rich fruit flavors, medium tannins and medium acidity. The wines retain their freshness from the cooling winds that funnel down from the Alps and offer the vineyards relief from the hot summers.
90+ Cellars Lot 162 Côtes Du Rhône is a blend of Grenache and Syrah planted on clay-limestone soils. This red blend has a slightly more peppery flavor and more luscious fruit notes like blackcurrants and raspberries. This wine comes from a family run winery in the heart of the Rhône Valley that has been making wine here since the 1960s. Needless to say, they know a thing or two about quality winemaking.
If you’re looking for easy drinking, major bang for your buck French wines, look no further than Southern France!
This article was written by our International Wine Buyer, Alex Shaughnessy.