wines of the Languedoc

Rosemary will be guiding this Masterclass, alongside introducing her new book with Members, as we discover this fantastic area where the Languedoc’s small, independent producers are growing in number.

Once a source only for cheap bulk wine, Languedoc is now proving its ability to make wonderful terroir-expressive wines at very reasonable prices. The region is thriving, and with so many exciting wine producers, you hardly know where to start.

Languedoc is France’s biggest wine region, with just over 200,000 hectares (almost 500,000 acres) under vine – a quarter of the French vineyard acreage. It has a variety of climates and a matching variety of wine styles, with vines growing both along the Mediterranean and inland.

People are often amazed, considering the warm and dry climate, that high quality sparkling, dry white wines and great Pinot Noir wines are produced here. The mountains and the cool winds enable the talented producers to make wines with startling freshness, and our sommeliers invite Members to have a taste of some of the region’s most expressive wines.

Of the 41 villages making up the Appellation, Rosemary sites “the most significant are Roquetaillade, Antugnac and Cépie”, and concludes with a visit to those “spectacular vineyards in the hills outside the village of Cépie” called Château Rives-Blanques, “where things never stand still”.

It is a pleasure to welcome Rosemary to the Club, and I do hope you will join us for this insightful evening with arguably the leading expert on the Languedoc.