white vines

Bourboulenc
A traditional vine for the cultivation of white wines, belonging to the family of the Malvasier vines. Nearly forgotten, this vine has seen its restoration since the eighties, now being part of many white wines of the South of France. It ripens late, but is full of strength and spices and it develops a good acid content.

Clairette
A highly reputed vine of the Languedoc-Roussillon since the Middle Age. In former times the grapes were first of all used for the production of Vermouth. In its modern variation, it generates nice, round and fruity white wines.

Grenache Blanc
belongs to the same family as Grenache Noir and it develops a lot of alcohol, roundness and structure in this hot climate of Occitania. It is often used for cuvées, first of all for the wines of Rivesaltes. Today this vine sees its renaissance for dry, Mediterrenean style white wines.

Macabeu
is of Catalan origin, and does neither like dryness nor wind. The white wines produced from it are more or less banal, anyhow while ripening and being stored long enough, it has a remarkable palette of aromas.

Marsanne
is highly reputed as basic for the great white Hermitage and it bestows more structure and elegance to the white wines of Languedoc-Roussillon

Mauzac
First of all grown in the Departements of the Aude and of the Tarn, this type of vine (also called Blanquette or Mauzac Blanc) is first of all of importance in Limoux; its good acid and the fresh apple taste are perfect for vinifcation of the sparking wine called Blanquette.

Muscat
First of all the type called Petit Grains - also called Muscat de Frontignan - is used for the vinification of fine Vins Doux Naturels. For some years the early harvested grapes are also used for the vinification of dry, parfumed white wines, which are perfect as Aperitive.

Picpoul
If being vinificated early enough, the wine is full of fruit and freshness; it is the perfect wine with oysters.

Roussanne
The wine of the Roussanne is often assembled with Marsanne, the culitvation of this vine is very complicated, but the aromatic taste is overwhelming. It can add more finesse to the white wines of the South of France.

Chardonnay
The queen of all white vines is one of the noble vines and it is grown world wide. Chardonnay was cultivated from a natural mixture of a Pinot vine and Heunisch. In France itself more than 34 different types of the Chardonnay vine are grown, all origin from Chardonnay, the Burgundy village.

In the South-West of France it was the wine cooperative of Limoux (Departement Aude), which started to plant Chardonnay vines at the beginning of the eighties; with overwhelming success.
It proofed that Chardonnay can be cultivated in many different climates. Like no other vine the Chardonnay is perfect for vinification in barriques. For a long time it was thought that Chardonnays could not be stored over long periods; again the wine cooperative of Limoux proofed that Chardonnays may be stored for 15 years, thus developing their unique taste.

Sauvignon
This strong smelling type of the Sancerre vine is grown in Languedoc-Roussillon as pure home-grown wine. It neither likes heat nor dry, and can be in no way compared to Chardonnay, although it is nearly planted in the same quantity as Chardonnay.

red vines
Source: publishers Koenemann, Culinaria