The Corbieres have been growing grapes since Roman times and this area has always produced cheap, uncomplicated red wine in vast quantities. In September the village streets are slick with the overspill of grapes fallen from the trailers and the heady aroma of crushed grapes permeates everywhere. It is normal to see an elderly farmer with his ancient tractor and trailer taking his grapes to be processed, whilst a huge, modern harvester, that would not be out of place in a science fiction film, vies for space with him in the same street. It is the most important time in the calendar of the Corbieres - the vendange (wine harvest).

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Owners of small vineyards used to take their grapes to their local village Co-Operative to be processed, here all the produce was mixed in together, regardless of quality, but these days are gone. Customers demanded a better quality of wine and, thanks to EU grants, and the organisation of  wine producers, the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status has been adopted, together with new technology. The best of old traditions have been retained, however, but the poor quality vines have been pulled up and replaced with better ones.  Corbières wines can now hold their own with the classic French vintages of Bordeaux and Burgundy, and prove it by regularly snapping up prizes at national competitions.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

Corbières wine is red, with the remainder equally split between white and rosé. Red wines are generally full-bodied and             spicy; rosés range from deep pink to the palest of tints, uncomplicated and fresh-flavoured. The top AOC wines can cost as much as 20-30 euros a bottle. But at the other extreme you can find excellent wines (both Vin de Pays and AOC) sold direct from the wine vats (advertised as en vrac) in plastic jerry cans at very modest prices — from a couple of euros a litre upwards. Be aware when buying wine like this that it won’t keep long unless you transfer it to sealed bottles. A more suitable alternative for taking home with you is the bag-in-box, which excludes air to maintain freshness. The French are no longer snobs about wine boxes, they have embraced them as we have and some of the best Chateaux produce wine in boxes, especially at Christmas. 

 

Corbières is one of the largest wine appellation in France. To distinguish the wines, Corbières is divided into 11 terroirs such as Sigean, Lézignan, Boutenac and Lagrasse.​

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We recommend very highly the small, family vineyard of Leanne & Emmanuel Puy which is in Roubia, Minervois, just  14 km from our gites. Their organic wines are absolutely excellent and you can visit their caves any time, just call  in advance if possible.  For a simply wonderful gift they offer the opportunity to 'adopt' a row of vines - see their website for further information.

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