Laudun-l'Ardoise
Encyclopedia
Laudun-l'Ardoise is a commune
in the Gard
department in southern France
.
The commune name was Laudun until February 1, 2001.
wines, red, rosé and white.
The Rhône is one of the main areas for French wines. Some have their own AOC
(Appellation d'origine controlée) as Châteauneuf-du-Pape
, Hermitage
and Gigondas
-others are selling their wines under the umbrella Côtes du Rhône AOC
.
In 1953 the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) chose 4 villages with a good reputation, but not considered quite good enough for their own AOC: Gigondas (has today its own AOC), Cairanne, Chusclan and Laudun (which include neighboring St.Victor la Coste and Tresques). These wine could add their name to the general AOC and sell the wine as "Côtes du Rhône Laudun", if they lived up to strict conditions as to yield per hectar (35 hl instead of 50), alcoholic strength (minimum 121,5 % alcohol etc.
Later this group was extended with an increasing number of Villages -as Vacqueyras (1955, also later having AOC), Vinsobres (recently also an AOC) and recognized as AOC "Côtes du Rhône Villages". Today some 15-20 villages are allowed to add their own name to "Côtes du Rhône Villages", while another 30-40 can use the Côtes du Rhône Villages without their name added.
Close to the small village is the Camp de César plateau, where amphorae has been found, indicating an old Roman settlement, perhaps from César's days. Laudun was originally better known for white wines than reds -and in 1375 wine was sent to the papal cellars, then still in Avignon. King Louis XIII was in 1629 offered a barrel of Laudun, also white.
Today, however, far more red than white wine is produced from Grenache and Syrah varietals, a wine with some body and fruit, but not among the most heavy, pleasant for drinking fairly young -not unlike the neighbor to the south -Lirac (AOC).
The main producer is the coop, Cave les Quatre Chemins. There are a few private cellars, inc. Pelaquié. Only part of the production is sold as Laudun Rhône Villages. The rest is sold as straight Côtes du Rhône or Vin de Pays (often named Gard after the department, Laudun is situated in). In total app. 1 million bottles are produced.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Gard
Gard
Gard is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.The department is named after the River Gard, although the formerly Occitan name of the River Gard, Gardon, has been replacing the traditional French name in recent decades, even among French speakers.- History...
department in southern 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 commune name was Laudun until February 1, 2001.
Demography
Wine
Laudun is one of the communes producing Côtes du Rhône VillagesCôtes du Rhône Villages AOC
Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It is made up from a list of villages around the region which supposedly produces a high quality of wine. It is above the more generic Côtes-du-Rhône AOC but below appellations...
wines, red, rosé and white.
The Rhône is one of the main areas for French wines. Some have their own AOC
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...
(Appellation d'origine controlée) as Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a French wine Appellation d'origine contrôlée located around the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône wine region in southeastern France. It is the most renowned appellation of the southern part of the Rhône Valley...
, Hermitage
Hermitage AOC
Hermitage is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the northern Rhône wine region of France south of Lyon. It produces mostly red wine from the Syrah grape; however, small quantities of white wine are also produced from Roussane and Marsanne grapes...
and Gigondas
Gigondas AOC
Gigondas is a French wine Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in the southern Rhône wine region of France. It is solely a Red wine region with a small amount of rosé wine produced. Being a little brother of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the wine is moderately prestigious and can yield beautiful results when...
-others are selling their wines under the umbrella Côtes du Rhône AOC
Côtes du Rhône AOC
Côtes du Rhône is a wine-growing Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for the Rhône wine region of France, which may be used throughout the region, also in those areas which are covered by other AOCs...
.
In 1953 the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) chose 4 villages with a good reputation, but not considered quite good enough for their own AOC: Gigondas (has today its own AOC), Cairanne, Chusclan and Laudun (which include neighboring St.Victor la Coste and Tresques). These wine could add their name to the general AOC and sell the wine as "Côtes du Rhône Laudun", if they lived up to strict conditions as to yield per hectar (35 hl instead of 50), alcoholic strength (minimum 121,5 % alcohol etc.
Later this group was extended with an increasing number of Villages -as Vacqueyras (1955, also later having AOC), Vinsobres (recently also an AOC) and recognized as AOC "Côtes du Rhône Villages". Today some 15-20 villages are allowed to add their own name to "Côtes du Rhône Villages", while another 30-40 can use the Côtes du Rhône Villages without their name added.
Close to the small village is the Camp de César plateau, where amphorae has been found, indicating an old Roman settlement, perhaps from César's days. Laudun was originally better known for white wines than reds -and in 1375 wine was sent to the papal cellars, then still in Avignon. King Louis XIII was in 1629 offered a barrel of Laudun, also white.
Today, however, far more red than white wine is produced from Grenache and Syrah varietals, a wine with some body and fruit, but not among the most heavy, pleasant for drinking fairly young -not unlike the neighbor to the south -Lirac (AOC).
The main producer is the coop, Cave les Quatre Chemins. There are a few private cellars, inc. Pelaquié. Only part of the production is sold as Laudun Rhône Villages. The rest is sold as straight Côtes du Rhône or Vin de Pays (often named Gard after the department, Laudun is situated in). In total app. 1 million bottles are produced.