6 wines to taste the Languedoc-Roussillon

A haven for wine lovers, if the Languedoc-Roussillon isn’t on your bucket list, it should be.

With its thriving wine tourism and vast parcels of vineyards – springtime is a wonderful time to visit with the scent of blossom; and that’s before you’ve even swirled the wine and nosed the aromas.

Indeed, the region’s diverse style of wines can satisfy your expectations in spades.

Cited as a playground for winemakers, it’s France’s largest wine-producing region, stretching along the sunny Med from the Rhône Valley to the Pyrenees, with a plethora of grape varieties to whet your whistle.

Here’s a snapshot of styles for a tasting adventure…

Native to the south of France, this rare variety is worth a spring fling for its fruity, fresh floral aromas, gentle tropical notes underpinned by zesty citrus and streak of minerality. Food-friendly and lots of fun.

A delicious alternative to sauvignon blanc, herbaceous characters are supported by juicy stone fruits, peachy, creamy accents and a rich, rounded, silky palate with limey acidity and great minerality. A wonderful aperitif, and just as impressive as Chapoutier’s northern Rhône whites.

Rosé to rival a Provencal pink, this fragrant bottle overdelivers for its price. Sea breezes shape this crisp, dry rosé that has notes of grapefruit and fresh summer berry fruits, and is packed with vibrant red fruit characters and balanced acidity.

One of the Languedoc’s star producers, Jean-Claude Mas packs a lot of spiced, brambly berries into this super-smooth red. Deftly blended with plenty of jammy blackberry, laced with touches of aromatic garrigue – scrubland that’s characteristic of the region – his wines are a favourite for consistent quality, value and downright enjoyment.

A rustic red from this sunny and rugged stretch of land, blueberry aromas and savoury notes are at the heart of this Cahors malbec. Dark and brooding, it offers concentrated flavours of plums, figs and prunes with savoury nuances and smooth tannins. Delicious and a natural with French country cooking.

A standout syrah and right on song, there’s elegance to this floral, spicy, peppery red with pretty aromas of cassis, blackcurrant and violets on the silky smooth palate, and plenty of plush violet-edged fruit, hints of liquorice and warm spice on the finish. In a word: Gorgeous.