Discovery
By Jean-Paul Burias – Photographs: courtesy of the estates, posted on 01 September 2025
Languedoc-Roussillon boasts 246,000 hectares under vine and 38 appellations and designations, making it France’s most extensive wine region. Its variety of soil types and grape varieties along with its typical Mediterranean climate shape its myriad vineyard sites, all of which can be leveraged to show off their distinctive features. But how effective is it at doing so?
The proposition is both generous and alluring. The Languedoc-Roussillon wine region sits among the world’s largest and stands out for being richly blessed with natural treasures and a strong terroir-driven identity. Its weather conditions and soil types dictate the choice of grape varieties and where they are planted. Recognition of the Languedoc appellation in 2007 brought with it improved coherency and clarity of the range of wines on offer and was a significant factor in energising a fast developing wine industry. From a sales and marketing perspective, it came in response to the inevitable development of sales of mid-range wines and brands, becoming a benchmark over the medium term, both in terms of reputation and quality. For winegrowers, the endorsement offers undeniable added value. Each appellation promotes its own specific features, unique traits and above all its authentic skill set.
The management staff at Les Domaines Auriol
For this major exporter company in the Occitania region, tradition and passing on a legacy go hand in hand. As a child, Claude Vialade would accompany her father Jean as he visited the vineyards belonging to the Corbières chateau he managed. After starting her career with a wine producers’ group, she established Les Domaines Auriol in 2000 and has made her company an international benchmark for the Corbières appellation and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) Pays d’Aude and Pays d’Oc. She is now passing on the company to one of her children, Jordi Salvagnac, its operations director. The business is an innovator, responding to the latest trends in the French and international markets with products that are mostly environmentally certified. “Languedoc wines have the flexibility to adapt to every proposition”, stresses Vialade. “However, an impactful image characterising the region is a requisite. We still suffer from the lack of precision for a positive message and powerful, inclusive communications that are dynamic at global level and would enable us to establish a standard for a region that boasts outstanding potential”. Eighty-five percent of the company’s wines are organically and environmentally certified and 90% are sold internationally, with Europe and Canada prime destinations. “We are recognised for producing Mediterranean-style wines”, adds Vialade. “From this perspective, our skills are amply established with renowned brands that convey a modern and sought-after style”. Although the situation can sometimes be challenging, demand continues to be strong in the extensive organic space with clean, fruity, balanced wines that will keep for at least two years after bottling.
Claude Vialade, owner of Les Domaines Auriol with her son Jordi Salvagnac
Auguste Commeyras, the owner of Domaine l'Aiguelière in front of photos of his father and his grandfather
In the foothills of Larzac Plateau, listed as Unesco World Heritage, lies Domaine l’Aiguelière. Its 18-hectare vineyard is planted to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cabernet-Sauvignon for the reds and Viognier and Sauvignon for the whites. Established at the beginning of the 1960s by André Commeyras and his brother Aimé, the winery has successfully transitioned from that of pioneer to an internationally renowned property for its Montpeyroux and Terrasses du Larzac appellations and PGI Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert. “Languedoc is a major French wine region”, says the winery’s manager Auguste Commeyras. “The wide variety of vineyard sites is underpinned by a culture of winemaking that is anything but uniform. Strict production specifications have helped improved quality, but whilst necessary, they require a rigidity that blocks change”. The low-cropping vines are farmed organically and produce rich, typical wines showing great finesse. Though suitable for laying down, they are also accessible when relatively young. “The Languedoc descriptor is still too generic”, laments Commeyras. “It embraces markers that are too different and variable to be sufficiently meaningful. However, the hierarchy system did allow the public to discover the specific features of each vineyard site, although there are still many left to discover. Despite the cycle of global warming and new-found interest in alcohol-free drinks, I continue to be very optimistic considering all the progress we have made over the past fifty years. We now produce timeless rosés, whites and reds that are well-made, enjoyable and offer a treat for the tastebuds”.
Auguste Commeyras top grafting vines at Domaine l'Aiguelière
Benoît Bertrand, owner of Domaine de Malavieille
Evidence points to the presence of vines in the Terrasses du Larzac area dating back to Roman times. A location that is iconic of the South of France, Domaine de Malavieille established itself as an appellation benchmark under the guidance of the late André Bertrand, who passed away in 2023, his wife Mireille and their son Benoît. Here, grapes ferment in concrete tanks with thick walls that are embedded into the rock, some of which were built in the 15th century. The wines fully encapsulate Mediterranean values and intensity with an extensive array of garrigue aromas. The explanation for such a broad range of nuances can be found in the variety of soil types and winegrowing artistry, with site descriptors not necessarily offering added value for producers. “The different designations are not necessarily in direct competition”, comments Benoît Bertrand. “Consumers pick out the differences more than the common ground. We probably have the greatest diversity of wines and genuine historical legitimacy. A quality image has to be built. In terms of discovery, we are a region full of pleasant surprises”.
André Bertrand who established Domaine de Malavieille
Mireille and Charles Greuzard at Domaine de l'Herbe Sainte with their daughter Christelle Lacaille Greuzard
‘Holy herb’ is a sacred plant symbolising healing and peace whose qualities have enabled it to travel down through the ages and across the garrigue-filled countryside. It has also lent its name to this specific location whose history has been documented since the 18th century. In 1987, Mireille and Charles Greuzard bought their first Carignan vineyard. They then reached a new milestone in 2001 by purchasing Domaine de l’Herbe Sainte and selling their first bottles a year later as estate owners and winegrowers. Starting from the ground up, they developed a successful export business with their three ranges of wines – Pays d’Oc, Minervois and Festive for the Crémants. “Our primary focus is on marketing appetising wines”, explains Mireille Greuzard. “Some appellations are more fashionable than others. They often have identical grape varieties and can only be identified by their vineyard site”. The quality hierarchy does however have the advantage of facilitating market understanding. “Adding South of France to the appellation ensures better visibility”, feels Charles Greuzard. “It gives importers more opportunities in their searches, which is important in these challenging economic times which have undermined some of the industry’s appeal”.
Mireille Greuzard in her vineyard at Domaine de l'Herbe Sainte
Le Clos du Lucquier is set in a stunning location
The 15 hectares of clay-limestone terraces at Clos du Lucquier are planted primarily to four grape varieties – Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault – with Grenache blanc, Vermentino, Viognier and Roussanne completing the line-up of white varietals. The location of the vineyard blocks in three neighbouring villages allows the winery to produce wines under four different appellations, offering a great illustration of the variety of each vineyard site. The appetising flavours of the PGI Pays d’Hérault wines sit alongside the fruitiness of AOP Languedoc, the concentration of AOP Montpeyroux and the freshness and finesse of AOP Terrasses du Larzac. “Our region is home to a wide variety of locations and styles and portrays an image of warm, dense wines”, points out winery owner Claude Panis. “The public is increasingly receptive to our wines and their finesse”. In addition to a narrative solely focused on the style, the name underscores each characteristic without increasing competition. “The term Languedoc enables consumers to get a general idea”, adds Panis. “It’s then up to them to specify their tastes and sate their curiosity. I think there is enough room for all committed, conscientious winegrowers”.
Nicole and Claude Panis, owners of Le Clos du Lucquier
Jean-Christophe Granier, the owner of Domaine Les Grandes Costes
Located in the lower foothills of the Cevennes mountains, Domaine Les Grandes Costes has successfully and subtly fused the qualities of traditional varieties Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Syrah, reining in their yields. Its strong identity stems from characterful wines, most of them red with supple tannins, black fruit flavours and persistent freshness. The winery boasts 20 hectares, 16 of them in the Pic Saint Loup area, which became a legally recognised, stand-alone appellation in 2017. Jean-Christophe Granier took over from his grandfather in 1998. “Our wines can be defined by a certain freshness that comes from our climate, but also by techniques used in the winery where extraction is not an absolute priority”, he explains. “Their silky-soft style comes from our lengthy maturations that last on average over 24 months. In France, Pic Saint Loup is viewed as very high quality and has garnered undeniable acclaim”. The estate is divided up into many vineyard sites and has 20 blocks located in an unspoilt setting. The bright landscapes of limestone garrigues have been untouched by urban sprawl and vines – the only crop grown since olive trees were wiped out in 1956 – thrive here. “In some distribution channels, our appellations have developed genuine brand image which limits competition between them”, adds Granier. “The various designations highlight the variety of our vineyard sites. In export markets they still lack recognition and it will require time and work to find out whether the overall range has gained greater appeal”.
Jean-Christophe Granier racks barrels of his wine
The cellar door facilities at Domaine Les Grandes Costes
The Languedoc name continues to be meaningful and act as a driving force in export markets but being able to offer vineyard sites classified by quality is an added bonus, both for the trade and the end customer. Appellations like Cabardès, Corbières-Boutenac, Faugères and Pic Saint Loup – formerly labelled under Languedoc – have also developed their reputations in recent years fuelled by their complexity, richness and the expertise of their winegrowers. Often made from low-cropped vines, the wines show seductive finesse and typicity. They are more age-worthy yet remain accessible whilst still relatively young. They are user-friendly, interesting, energetic and develop explosive aromas with Mediterranean flavours, all of which are considerable advantages in these challenging economic times where quality ultimately always prevails.
Discovery
Discovery
Discovery