Other wine regions

Fitou

The appellation of Fitou is oddly split between the village itself, near the coast, and part of the Corbières between Villeneuve and Tuchan. The wine is similar in character to red Corbières; the AOC rules specify that it must be aged for at least a year before being sold and it is best drunk after five years or more in the bottle. It is widely available abroad.

Minervois

Like Corbières, Minervois, produced over the border in the Hérault, is an appellation that is on its way up, and increasingly widely available abroad. It is similar in character as it uses many of the same grape varieties.

La Clape

This is a tiny appellation (a subdivision of Côteaux du Languedoc) produced in the massif of La Clape, near Narbonne. This hill was once an island which may explain the distinctive character of both the landscape and the wine. The red is robust and spicy; the white, dominated by bourboulenc, is light and floral, good with seafood. The estates are small and intensely individual.

Quatourze

Another variation on Corbières even more obscure than La Clape, this is made on a few estates around Bages and Peyriac-de-Mer just south of Narbonne.

Wine regions

In Languedoc-Roussillon

St. Chinian

Formerly part of the Côteaux du Languedoc, like La Clape, this region was promoted to its own appellation relatively recently. The wines are deep red and robust, and age well.

Blanquette and Crémant de Limoux

Reputedly the world’s oldest sparkling wines (first recorded in 1531), made in and around the town of Limoux, to the west of the Corbières. Made from chardonnay, chenin blanc and mauzac (a variety used nowhere else), it may be sweeter and blander than ’real’ champagne, but the price is very competitive! — you will find it at around 6 euros upwards a bottle. Blanquette, made by the méthode champenoise, is fizzier and drier than Crémant. Increasingly, the area is becoming known for excellent chardonnays too — the Toques et Clochers label is well worth seeking out.

Muscat

This sweet, golden vin doux naturel is produced under various names depending on where it is made: de Lunel, de Rivesaltes, de Frontignan, de St-Jean de Minervois. Even if you think you don’t like sweet wine, try it — perhaps with a slice of ripe Charentais melon or, as the locals recommend, with foie gras. The eccentric English have been known to drink it with Christmas pudding. To be taken in small doses, well chilled, it has a flavour like honey, from the Muscat grape which is used to make it, and a high alcohol content which means an opened and re-corked bottle will keep for a couple of weeks. The best is the petit grain meaning it is produced from the small-berried variety of Muscat, not the bigger table grapes.

Maury

Produced in the valley of the Agly, this rich, sweet vin doux naturel made from grenache noir and aged for up to 15 years, is rather reminiscent of tawny port. It is said to be good with curry but we have not verified this as curry is hard to come by in the Corbières ...