Cabardès AOC
Encyclopedia
Cabardès is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
(AOC) for red and rosé wine in Languedoc-Roussillon
wine region in France
. Cabardès was named after the Lords of Cabaret who defended the Châteaux de Lastours
against Simon de Montfort
in 1209. Despite the name's medieval origins, this appellation is one of the youngest in France, having only become official in February 1999.
wine under the alternative names Cabardès and Côtes du Cabardès et de l'Orbiel since 1973. The unique requirement of blending Mediterranean varietals and Atlantic varietals is the result of experimentation in cultivation and blending that began in the late 1970s.
As of 2007, these wines were relatively unknown in France, and their export, in terms of volume, is exceptionally rare due to limited production quantities and a relatively small marketing budget.
. The appellation really consists of a small grouping of villages directly north of the medieval walled city of Carcassonne
. It is exceptionally small in size compared to the neighboring AOC areas like the 5,100 hectare-large Minervois
or the 15,000 hectare behemoth of the Corbieres
.
The soil composition varies between chalky clay, limestone and rocky foothill terroir. The weather is largely dominated by the powerful wind currents of the region, the dry, Atlantic vent Cers
and the warm, Mediterranean vent Marin
. The appellation's location where these winds meet on the border of two major French climatic zones creates a unique microclimate that has influenced its development as a winemaking region.
produced in the Cabardès is red, but rosé can also be produced under the AOC designation. The region is positioned on the cusp between the distinct climates of the Languedoc-Roussillon
and the southwest of France
. The appellation is the only AOC in France that permits the blending of grape varieties typically found in Mediterranean climates like Syrah and Grenache
with varieties typically found in Atlantic climates like Merlot
and Cabernet Sauvignon
. Winemakers are required to grow 50% Atlantic varietals and 50% Mediterranean varietals, and must also blend them - although the proportions of Atlantic or Mediterrannean varietals may be as high as 99% or as low as 1%. This varietal composition reflects the distinctive soil qualities and dominant winds of the area.
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...
(AOC) for red and rosé wine in Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc wine
Languedoc - Roussillon wine, including the vin de pays labeled Vin de Pays d'Oc, is produced in southern France. While "Languedoc" can refer to a specific historic region of France and Northern Catalonia, usage since the 20th century has primarily referred to the northern part of the...
wine region in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Cabardès was named after the Lords of Cabaret who defended the Châteaux de Lastours
Châteaux de Lastours
The Châteaux de Lastours are four so-called Cathar castles in the French commune of Lastours in the département of l'Aude. The four castles are on a rocky spur above the village of Lastours, isolated by the deep valleys of the Orbeil and Grésilhou rivers...
against Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester
Simon IV de Montfort, Seigneur de Montfort-l'Amaury, 5th Earl of Leicester , also known as Simon de Montfort the elder, was a French nobleman who took part in the Fourth Crusade and was a prominent leader of the Albigensian Crusade...
in 1209. Despite the name's medieval origins, this appellation is one of the youngest in France, having only become official in February 1999.
History
The residents of the Cabardes region produced wine as early as the Roman occupation, but the modern appellation was made official only in 1999. It had previously been a VDQSVDQS
Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure , usually abbreviated as VDQS, is the second highest category of French wine, below Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in rank, but above Vin de pays . VDQS is sometimes written as AOVDQS, with AO standing for Appellation d'Origine...
wine under the alternative names Cabardès and Côtes du Cabardès et de l'Orbiel since 1973. The unique requirement of blending Mediterranean varietals and Atlantic varietals is the result of experimentation in cultivation and blending that began in the late 1970s.
As of 2007, these wines were relatively unknown in France, and their export, in terms of volume, is exceptionally rare due to limited production quantities and a relatively small marketing budget.
Geography and climate
The vineyards of the Cabardes cover a mere 500 hectares on the northwestern border of the modern Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, an area that runs up against the foothills of the Montagne NoireMontagne Noire
* Not to be confused with the Montagnes Noires in Brittany.The Montagne Noire is a mountain range in central southern France. It is located at the southwestern end of the Massif Central in the border area of the Tarn, Hérault and Aude departments...
. The appellation really consists of a small grouping of villages directly north of the medieval walled city of Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
. It is exceptionally small in size compared to the neighboring AOC areas like the 5,100 hectare-large Minervois
Minervois
Minervois is an AOC in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region. The red wines of the Minervois appellation are produced from Carignan , Grenache, Lledoner Pelut, Mourvedre, and Syrah grapes...
or the 15,000 hectare behemoth of the Corbieres
Corbières AOC
Corbières is an Appellation d'origine contrôlée for wine in the Languedoc-Roussillon, and it is this region's largest AOC, responsible for 46 per cent of the region's AOC wine production in 2005. Red wine dominates the production in Corbières with almost 95 per cent, with 3.5 per cent rosé wine...
.
The soil composition varies between chalky clay, limestone and rocky foothill terroir. The weather is largely dominated by the powerful wind currents of the region, the dry, Atlantic vent Cers
Cers (wind)
The Cers, also called the Narbonnais by those who live southeast of Narbonne, is a very dry wind that is colder during the winter and warmer during the summer. Originating from moist Atlantic air-masses flowing across the Toulouse area, Cers become intensified through the Lauragais gap. They are...
and the warm, Mediterranean vent Marin
Marin (wind)
The Marin is a warm, moist wind in the Gulf of Lion of France, blowing from the southeast or south-southeast onto the coast of Languedoc and Roussillon. It brings rain to this region which it has picked up crossing the Mediterranean, and also can bring coastal fog...
. The appellation's location where these winds meet on the border of two major French climatic zones creates a unique microclimate that has influenced its development as a winemaking region.
Grapes
Most of the wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
produced in the Cabardès is red, but rosé can also be produced under the AOC designation. The region is positioned on the cusp between the distinct climates of the Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
and the southwest of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The appellation is the only AOC in France that permits the blending of grape varieties typically found in Mediterranean climates like Syrah and Grenache
Grenache
Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world. It ripens late, so it needs hot, dry conditions such as those found in Spain, the south of France, and California's San Joaquin Valley. It is generally spicy, berry-flavored and soft on the palate with a relatively...
with varieties typically found in Atlantic climates like Merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
and Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
. Winemakers are required to grow 50% Atlantic varietals and 50% Mediterranean varietals, and must also blend them - although the proportions of Atlantic or Mediterrannean varietals may be as high as 99% or as low as 1%. This varietal composition reflects the distinctive soil qualities and dominant winds of the area.