AOP Saint-Chinian
Absolument grand
The vineyards stretch out on either side of the Orb and Vernazobre rivers, with the Caroux and Espinouse mountains as a backdrop. The Saint-Chinian vineyards, which extend over 20 villages, produce some of the most renowned wines in the region. This appellation has been recognised as an AOC since 1982 for its red and rosé wines, and since 2004 for its whites. Its two very different terroirs, one on clay-limestone, the other on sandstone and schist, mark the landscape and give each wine its own originality. Fruity, supple and generous wines from the northern part of the vineyard, made up of schist soils, and elegant, dense, full-bodied wines from the southern part, made up of limestone gravel.
The vineyards are well protected from the rain by the majestic Mont Caroux. The Saint-Chinian appellation enjoys a temperate Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and infrequent showers.
The southern grape varieties grown in the Saint-Chinian vineyards give the wines their distinctive character. The appellation decree sets out a restrictive list of grape varieties: grenache noir, syrah, mourvèdre, carignan noir, cinsault noir and lledoner pelut.
