Marcillac AOC
Encyclopedia
Marcillac is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
for wine
in South West France
and is located 20 km to the north-west of Rodez
in the Aveyron
department. It is located close to the river Aveyron which via Tarn flows into Garonne
.
almost 1,000 years ago.
status (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure), i.e. the classification immediately below AOC wine, which it was granted under the name Vin de Marcillac. The growers re-landscaped the vineyards, creating terraces in order to allow maximum mechanisation of their work. In 1990 the wine-growing area was granted AOC status under its present name, Marcillac.
in the Aveyron department. Production is spread across the communes of Marcillac-Vallon
, Balsac
, Clairvaux-d'Aveyron
, Goutrens
, Mouret
, Nauviale
, Pruines
, Salles-la-Source
, Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou
, Saint-Christophe-Vallon
and Valady.
soils rich in iron oxide that are known locally as rougiers. The individual plots either cling to steeply sloping hillsides or are cut into terraces. Together they form a kind of amphitheatre that faces due south, ensuring that the grapes ripen well.
Temperatures for Rodez
, which is located next door to the Marcillac wine-growing area:
. The remainder is made up of Cabernets: Cabernet Sauvignon
and Cabernet Franc
.
, Laguiole
and Salers
cheeses.
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...
for wine
Wine
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...
in South West France
South West France (wine region)
South West France or in French Sud-Ouest, is a wine region in France covering several wine-producing areas situated respectively inland from, and south of, the wine region of Bordeaux...
and is located 20 km to the north-west of Rodez
Rodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
in the Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
department. It is located close to the river Aveyron which via Tarn flows into Garonne
Garonne
The Garonne is a river in southwest France and northern Spain, with a length of .-Source:The Garonne's headwaters are to be found in the Aran Valley in the Pyrenees, though three different locations have been proposed as the true source: the Uelh deth Garona at Plan de Beret , the Ratera-Saboredo...
.
From Antiquity to the Middle Ages
This wine-growing area developed under the auspices of the Abbey of ConquesConques
Conques is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Geography:The village is located at the confluence of the Dourdou and Ouche rivers. It is built on a hillside and has classic narrow Medieval streets. As a result, large vehicles cannot enter the historic town centre but must...
almost 1,000 years ago.
Modern Period
Initially a thriving business, wine production met the needs of the local population. The wines were held in high esteem by the middle classes and by the clergy of Rodez, whose superiors sited their country residence in the wine-growing area. They were also a consumed by miners and agricultural workers. However, a public health crisis at the end of the 19th century, the frosts of the early 20th century and the decline of the mines combined to bring down wine production, and it reached its lowest point ever in 1965. It was at this point that a handful of producers decided to take action in order to prevent the wine industry from becoming completely extinct. In 1965 they decided to apply for 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...
status (Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure), i.e. the classification immediately below AOC wine, which it was granted under the name Vin de Marcillac. The growers re-landscaped the vineyards, creating terraces in order to allow maximum mechanisation of their work. In 1990 the wine-growing area was granted AOC status under its present name, Marcillac.
Geographical location
This appellation is located to the north-west of RodezRodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
in the Aveyron department. Production is spread across the communes of Marcillac-Vallon
Marcillac-Vallon
Marcillac-Vallon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Balsac
Balsac, Aveyron
Balsac is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:...
, Clairvaux-d'Aveyron
Clairvaux-d'Aveyron
Clairvaux-d'Aveyron is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Goutrens
Goutrens
Goutrens is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Mouret
Mouret
Mouret may refer to:*Mouret, Aveyron, a town in France*Le Mouret, a municipality in the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland*Lissac-et-Mouret, a commune in the Lot department, France-See also:*Jean-Joseph Mouret , composer...
, Nauviale
Nauviale
Nauviale is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:...
, Pruines
Pruines
Pruines is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.The Château de Pruines is a castle dating back to the 15th century, much modified over the centuries.-Population:...
, Salles-la-Source
Salles-la-Source
Salles-la-Source is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.The Rodez-Marcillac Airport is located in Salles-la-Source.-References:*...
, Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou
Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou
Saint-Cyprien-sur-Dourdou is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Saint-Christophe-Vallon
Saint-Christophe-Vallon
Saint-Christophe-Vallon is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
and Valady.
Geology
The vines are planted in red clayClay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
soils rich in iron oxide that are known locally as rougiers. The individual plots either cling to steeply sloping hillsides or are cut into terraces. Together they form a kind of amphitheatre that faces due south, ensuring that the grapes ripen well.
Climate
The climate varies according to the season. In winter it is possible to detect the influence of semi-continental weather patterns, while in summer Mediterranean influences are more apparent. That said, approximate annual sunshine stands at an impressive 2,200 hours. More often than not, the winters are extremely harsh and the summers very hot and sunny, not dissimilar to those experienced by towns bordering the Mediterranean.Temperatures for Rodez
Rodez
Rodez is a town and commune in southern France, in the Aveyron department, of which it is the capital. Its inhabitants are called Ruthénois.-History:Existing from at least the 5th century BC, Rodez was founded by the Celts...
, which is located next door to the Marcillac wine-growing area:
| Month : | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Year : |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum average monthly temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6.8 |
| Maximum average monthly temperature (°C) | 6 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 14.8 |
| Precipitation (average height in mm) |
36.2 | 27.0 | 23.9 | 43.8 | 46.0 | 34.9 | 22.9 | 31.1 | 50.0 | 60.1 | 45.1 | 37.7 | 38.2 |
| Source: MSN Weather | |||||||||||||
Profile
The wine is a red wine. In 2004, 8,000 hectolitres of it were produced from 161 hectares (397.8 acre).Grape varieties grown
The main variety grown (90 %) is Mansois, the local name for Fer ServadouFer
Fer is a red French wine grape variety that is grown primarily in South West France and is most notable for its role in the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wines of Gaillac, Marcillac and Béarn but can also be found as minor component in the wines of Madiran, Cabardès and Bergerac...
. The remainder is made up of Cabernets: 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...
and Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is one of the major black grape varieties worldwide. It is principally grown for blending with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, but can also be vinified alone - as in the Loire's Chinon...
.
Terroir and wines
This particular red wine tends to be tannic and rustic in character, with a predominantly raspberry aroma.Types of wine and gastronomy
Marcillac wine is locally often paired with aligot à la saucisse (mashed potatoes with cheese, cream and garlic, served with sausage) or tripoux (stuffed sheep's tripe), as well as CantalCantal
Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....
, Laguiole
Laguiole
Laguiole is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.It is known for its Laguiole cheese, which has an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée , and as the birthplace of the Laguiole knife. The name of the village comes from la gleisòla, meaning a little church.-Population:-References:*...
and Salers
Salers
Salers is a commune in the Cantal department in south-central France.It is famous for the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée cheeses Cantal and Salers...
cheeses.