AOC Faugères

 

Appellation area
To the north of Beziers and Pezenas, a territory of 2000 ha lies propped against the first buttresses of the Cevennes 300m high.


Geology
This is a land of schistes produced by compression during the formation of the Massif Central, clays created from marine deposits of the Palaeozoic era. Soils are quite permeable, not very fertile and considerably acidic.


Grapes
Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan et Cinsault pour red wines and rosé wines. Roussane, Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Vermentino for white wines.


Vinification
Traditional vinification and stripping for red wines. Depending on the vintage, carbonic maceration for the Carignan. 5/6 days to 20/25 days in vats for vintages to be aged.  Gradual maturing in oak barrels. For the rosé wines, saignée and direct pressing and increasingly used skin maceration. Standard vinification for young white wines and more developed vinification for wines with an ageing potential.

• Key figures
  2 000 ha of vineyards
  150 producers
  1 cooperative wine producers
  47 private wine producers
  

• Average yield
  40 hl/hectare

• Average production
  70 000 hl (85% red, 13% rosé , 2% white)

• Sales
  56 000 hl (storehouse ouputs 2005/06)
  General Distribution: 24 000 hl (43%)