Côtes du Roussillon Villages French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil

Geographic position

Southern France, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department north of Perpignan, in the Agly valley between the Corbières hills and the Pyrenees, with named villages Caramany, Latour-de-France, Lesquerde, Tautavel and Les Aspres.

Origin & history

Greeks and Romans planted vines here, and Roussillon, part of Catalonia until 1659, was long famous for sweet fortified wines. As demand shifted to dry reds, the Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC was created in 1977.

Wines & grape varieties

Red only, blended from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Lladoner Pelut, giving dark fruit, garrigue herbs, licorice and spice with firm, ripe tannins.

Climate & soil

Hot, dry Mediterranean climate swept by the Tramontane wind. A mosaic of black schist, granite, gneiss and limestone gives low yields and concentrated wines.