Languedoc Wines

• Home
• About Us
• Wine Article
• Reading Material
• Wines
  • Minervois
  • Cabardès
  • La Clape
  • Malpère
  • La Livinière
  • Corbières
    • Corbières NW
    • Corbières NE
    • Corbières SW
    • Corbières SE
  • Fitou
  • Limoux
• Contact Form
• Privacy Policy
• Contact Us
• Sitemap

Corbières A.O.C.

A.O.C. red, rosé and white since 1985
Website : www.aoc-corbieres.com

History
After a period of strong development under the reign of Augustus, the wines of the "Narbonnaise" suffered from the vindication of important Roman landowners victims of the strong competition this production engendered.
In 92 , Domitian ordered half of all plantations to be pulled up. The revival of vine growing came several centuries later with the establishment of the large Cistercian and Benedictine abbeys such as Lagrasse and Fontfroide.
From the XI to the XIII century thousands of hectares were cultivated but the Albigensian crusades again left the country desolate. It was not until the XVIII century that wine production picked up again in the Corbières, subsequently to be sold as far afield as Russia or Scotland.
Since then, the vine has not ceased to occupy a predominant position in the life and landscapes of the Corbières with efforts for quality developing from the beginning of the 20th century

Appellation production area
The vineyards lie within a quadrilateral area between Carcassonne, Narbonne, Perpignan and Quillan, which extends from the gates of Carcassonne to the lakes of Leucate and La Nouvelle and the foothills of the Pyrenees to the Montagne Noire.



Geology
Set between the mutable Pyrenees and the ancient Massif Central, Corbières has had a very complex geological history, which today explains the great diversity of soils in the region (schist, limestone, sandstone and marl). This diversity is reflected in the eleven terroirs spread over the appellation.



Climate
The Mediterranean predominates, as can be seen in the typical vegetation of the garrigue, although the more westerly terroirs are also affected by oceanic influences.



Grape Varieties
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault are used for the red and rosé wines. Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc, Maccabeu, Marsanne and Roussanne are used for the white wines.



Vinification

Red wines - traditional fermentation or vinification of whole grapes. Increasingly, red wines are being matured in oak. Research and trials are being carried out by the Syndicate of AOC Corbières into this. 

Rosé wines - obtained by bleeding

White wines - Traditional techniques, maceration on the skins (some vinfication in casks).

Some of the larger Vineyards of note

Château de Mattes-Sabran
Château de Mattes-Sabran is a massive 615 hectare estate in the Sigean sub-region (as yet not legally defined) of Corbières, France's fourth largest appellation. Here the soils consist, generalising, of marine clay and limestone, and Jean-Luc Brouillat and his wife continue the family tradition of tending vines on this estate, which has been in the family since 1733. There are about 90 ha of vines all told, planted in 3 ha blocks, in two large portions. There is a 27 ha portion on the soils typical of Corbières , and a larger 60 ha portion around the house, planted on alluvial gravel and on limestone and marl. These vineyards support a range of varieties, the reds including Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, the whites Vermentino (also known as Rolle), as well as the more usual 'international' varieties.
http://www.mattes-sabran.fr/ang/vignoble.html

Château Mansenoble
Château Mansenoble is situated in the northwest of the Corbières appellation. The estate is run by Guido Jansegers, with his wife Marie-Annick. Together they extol a vineyard of 20 ha, of which 6.5 ha is AC Corbières and 13.5 ha is entitled to Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Miramont. The AC land is planted up with Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, whilst Cabernet and Merlot go to the vin de pays.
http://www.mansenoble.com/

Château Vaugelas
Chateau Vaugelas, in Corbières, is a classic example of how outside expertise and investment can benefit a property, and so a whole wine region. A domaine with some history, Chateau Vaugelas has been the seat of the Bonfils family for five generations, and they have tended vineyards filled with the traditional varieties of the south; Grenache, Carignan and so on. There are 110 ha in all, on argilo-limestone soils mixed with some of the large galets otherwise found in Châteauneuf du Pape. In 1996 the property has seen investment and renovation, and boasts an impressive cellar.
http://www.chateauvaugelas.com/

The following section are links to Winemakers of all Price ranges

For: CORBIERES North West, click HERE

CORBIERES North East, click HERE

CORBIERES South West, click HERE

CORBIERES South East, click HERE

| Home | About Us | Languedoc Wines | Languedoc Wine Books | Wines | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap |