a.o.c. - appellation contrôlée

Banyuls et Banyuls Grand Cru
This queen of all sweet wines is produced along the Côte Vermeille, located between Collioure (also with A.O.C. decree) and Cerbère on the foothills of the Pyrenees located South-Wester of Perpignan along the Spanish border. The best of these fiery, harmonic wines are produced of the Grenache Noir grapes. Traditionally these wines are vinificated as white wine, rosé or red wine. The best wines carry the addition Grand Cru for white wines or Grand Cru Rancio for the typical old sweet wines of Banyuls.

The quantity limitations and the regulations for cultivating the Grand Crus are very strong.
Grenache, Macabeu, Muscat and Tourbat are the primary white vines of this region. For red wines Grenache (min. 50 % contents), Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah are cultivated.

Côtes de Malepere
No A.O.C. wines, but they are on their way. This region in the Departement of the Aude produces structured red wines of strong bodies; anyhow, they may not be stored over long periods:

The red wines of the cave of Côte Malepere are located near Limoux and are produced from the vines of Cabernet franc, Côt and Merlot. The rosé wines are vinificated from Cabernet Franc, Cinsault, Grenache and Lledoner Pelut.

Cabardès
The terroir is located North of Carcassonne in the Montagne Noir; 13 communities produce the wines of Cabardes, which are unfortunately hardly known outside of France. These strong red wines are vinificated from 40 % Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; the Cuvées are combined with the grapes of the ancient vines Fer and Côt. The Cabardès wine growing region produces also really nice rosé wines.

La Clape
This terroir located West of Narbonne along the coast of the Mediterrenean Sea consists of the communities of Armissan, Fleury d'Aude, Narbonne, Salles d'Aude and Vinassan in the Departement of the Aude, and forms part of the great appellation Côteaux du Languedoc.

The white wines of the Clape region are produced from 40 % Bourboulenc min., combined with Clairette, Grenache, Marsanne, Rolle, Pousanne and Picpoul (being perfect with oysters), the portion of Bourboulenc and Grenache amounts to 60 % min.
The rosé wines are vinificated from 60 % Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah - 70 % for red wines. Anyhow, the Grenache portion must not exceed 20 %.

Blanquette-Crémant-Chardonnay de Limoux