1. Languedoc-Roussillon & Southern France An Overview and Tasting Tour
Al Guber
American Wine Society
"Promoting appreciation of wine through education“ The American Wine Society was organized in 1967 as a non-profit, educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in learning more about all aspects of wine. Now in its 48th year, the American Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education organization in North America.

2. Languedoc-Roussillon & Southern France – Tour Guide1 1 1 1

3. Languedoc-Roussillon & Southern France – Tour Guide
Wine List
Wht Desc
Red Desc
Prices 5 4 1 3 5 2 2 6 4 3 2 1
Social 1
White
Red

4. Languedoc-Roussillon & Southern France – Tour Guide1 3 4 5 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1
While "Languedoc" can refer to a specific historic region of France and Northern Catalonia, usage since the 20th century (especially in the context of wine) has primarily referred to the northern part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, an area which spans the Mediterranean coastline from the French border with Spain to the region of Provence. The area has around 700,000 acres (2,800 km2) under vines and is the single biggest wine-producing region in the world, being responsible for more than a third of France's total wine production. As recently as 2001, the region produced more wine than the entire United States.

5. Languedoc-Roussillon2 5 4 3 2 1

6. Languedoc: Grapes

7. Languedoc: Grapes

8. Languedoc: Sub-Regions

9. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Nimes Pont du Gard
Les Baux de Provence
Fitou
Provence Masif
Map

10. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Provence
Madiran
Map

11. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Languedoc Pyrennees
Minervois
Map
Languedoc Vineyard

12. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Corbrieres
Corbrieres
Minervois
Madiran
Map

13. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Bandol
Map
Bandol: At least 50% Mourvedre, then Grenache & Cinsaut

14. Southern France: Photo Gallery
Cahors
Madiran
Map

15. The Wines
Map

16. The Wines
Map
Social 1: Wine Advocate 89-Southern Rhone, Rhone, France-"Offers up perfumed citrus, strawberry and floral notes to go with a medium-bodied, juicy and beautifully pure feel on the palate. Its a perfect wine to pair with spicier food." Crisp . Citrus . Pear . Light-bodied
Social 2: Wine Enthusiast 90 -Aix-en-Provence, Rhone, France- "A family estate just outside Aix-en-Provence has produced a textured and dense wine. It has great fruitiness along with a spice and pepper character that brings out a more complex side. It's definitely for food." Crisp . Berry . Mineral . Medium-bodied
W1: South of France, France - Chemin des Sables offers freshness, lightness and delicious flavors. The wine has a beautiful pale pink color. This pleasurable wine is distinguished by its quality and its packaging. To be enjoyed chilled. Fresh . Strawberry . Citrus . Light-bodied
W2: Beverage Dynamics 90 -Rose, France- "A very nice rose waiting to be discovered - it is supple in the mouth, with a very nice finish and good body full of fresh fruity flavors." Pair with seafood, poultry, salads, and other light fare. Fresh . Strawberry . Fruity . Full-bodied
W3: Picpoul "A quintessential aperitif dry white that also works well with pasta, chicken, and seafood dishes. Its light straw color with a hint of green is followed by a fresh, lively wine that smells of melons, grapefruit, and green apples." Fresh . Fruity . Melon . Light-bodied
W4: Gascogne, Southwest France- This charming dry delicate wine from the famed Vigouroux family is fresh and aromatic, beginning with notes of exotic fruits, grapefruit, and lime tree flowers. Refreshing & easy to drink due to the combination of Ugni Blanc (60%) and Colombard (40%) grapes. Crisp . Citrus . Stone Fruit . Light-bodied
W5: Costières de Nimes, Rhone, France- The harmony of the blending brings astounding aromas of fresh white fruits: peaches, pears, litchis and white flowers. This crisp wine exhibits generous fruit flavor, a full developed mouthfeel and a clean finish. A perennial staff favorite. Crisp . Peach . Pear . Medium-bodied

17. The Wines
Map
R1: Bandol: Mourvèdre and Grenache are blended together in this ripe and spicy wine. It has a dense, firm structure with young tannins that are balanced by red-plum flavors. Big and concentrated, it finishes with a juicy aftertaste. Bandol, one of the smallest appellations in France, produces some exciting wines. This hearty red has notes of cherry, earth and game on the nose, leading into a palate of cassis, plum, spice and flowers. Soft tannins make this an ideal grill wine. Fresh . Cherry . Earth . Spice . Medium-bodied
R2: Minervois, Languedoc, France- This is a fruity, flavorful wine from start to finish. Revealing black pepper, leather, fresh herbs and blackberries in the nose. This soft, medium-bodied gem displays supple black raspberry, cassis and spicy, earthy flavors. Great Value!Fresh . Blackberry . Spice . Medium-bodied (40 Gren, 40 Syr, 20 Mouv)
R3: Mythique: South of France, France- The quintessential Languedoc wine; made from Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, and Grenache, aged in small oak casks for 8 months. Earthy, peppery scents lead to flavors of truffle, cassis and vanilla with a complex finish. Enjoy with BBQ, and hearty stews.Intense . Cassis . Spice .  
R4: Terrasses de Frigoulet Coteaux du Languedoc 2011 Wine Spectator 90 The Terrasses du Frigoulet is made from vineyards with argilo limestone and pebbles, and is made from hand harvested, de-stemmed fruit. The final blend for the 2011 was comprised of 35% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre from 100% estate bottled fruit. "A big red, powerful and concentrated, with mulberry, dark plum, blackberry and baked cherry flavors which feature notes of bacon fat and smoke. Dark chocolate pervades the muscular finish. Drink now through 2018.
R5: Cahors Wine Enthusiast 91 -Cahors, Southwest France- "Huge and concentrated, this is packed with dense tannins. The opulent black fruit shows a sumptuous character, balanced by a mineral-driven texture. With its great weight and its firm structure, this needs to age for at least six years." Concentrated . Plum . Black Cherry . Full-bodied
R6: Southwest France- This big, brawny Madiran shows the flavors and intensity of the Tannat grape. It has blackberry and black cherry fruit aromas, with floral hints. This is a big, intense highly-extracted wine, with both firm tannins and ripe fruit that practically explodes in the mouth. Intense . Blackberry . Black Cherry . Full-bodied

18. The Prices
Map

19. The World of Wine Wine Aroma Wheel

20. The World of Wine Spanish Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the most widely-planted red wine grape in Spain. Considered an indigenous variety, it may have been brought southwest to the Iberian peninsula by French monks. It is especially prominent in wines from the Ribera del Duero and throughout the Rioja and is also a key blending varietal in Port, known by the name of tinta roriz in Portugal's Douro Valley. Tempranillo is relatively uncommon, however, in most other wine-producing countries.
Tempranillo grapes tend to be low both in overall acidity and in sugar, but often high in pH, and nearly always high in tannin from their thick skins, although low in color intensity. Mindful of high tannins, many cool-climate producers advocate partial whole berry fermentation. Cool fermentation temperatures can also serve to decrease tannins and increase fruit flavors. In favorable climates such as the cool higher elevation of Ribera del Duero, tempranillo (aka tinto fino, tinta del pais) can make wine that is moderate in alcohol, but long-lived.
Typical Tempranillo Smell and/or Flavor Descriptors
Varietal Aromas/Flavors:
Processing Bouquets/Flavors:
Fruit: (subtle) plum, currant, blackberry
Terroir:
Floral: (not sweet) wildflower
Oak (light): vanilla, coconut
Fauna: leather (often mistaken for Brettanomyces)
Oak (heavy): oak, smoke, toast, tar
Herbal: very, can be weedy
Bottle Age: 
Spice: cinnamon
Mouthfeel: aggressive, thick, powerful tannins can be astringent and drying

21. The World of Wine: How It’s Made

22. The World of Wine Wine and Cheese Pairing