Appellation area
The Coteaux du Languedoc appellation was replaced in May 2007 by the Languedoc AOC appellation and extends all along the Mediterranean coast, from the Spanish border as far as Nimes, reaching up to the buttresses of the Montagne Noire and the Cevennes.  The diversity of the land and the characteristics of the Languedoc AOC wines are reflected by the establishment of a three level hierarchy: the Languedoc regional appellation, the sub regional appellations corresponding to the pedoclimatic regions, and finally, the land names at the heart of the sub regional appellations.

Geology
The geology of this region is varied, mainly consisting of the hard limestone of the scrubland and the schist ground as well as the gravel carried by the rivers and streams of the Languedoc region.

Climate
The Mediterranean climate of the entire appellation area is marked by a considerably hot and dry season.  The terrain is characterised by its relief. The diversity and specificity of the different regions has facilitated the definition of large pedoclimatic zones.

Grapes
Principal grapes for the red and rosé wines: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (50% minimum and 20% minimum syrah mourvèdre) for the Cinsault and Carignan coasts. For the Pic St Loup: Syrah, black Grenache, Mourvèdre (90% minimum). For the Clape and the Grés of Montpellier: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre (70% minimum).
For the white wines: black Grenache, black Clairette, Bourboulenc, black Piquepoul, Roussanne, Marsanne and Rolle (70% minimum), Viognier (10% maximum). For the Picpoul de Pinet: 100% Piquepoul.

Vinification
Red: traditional stripped fermentation or whole berry vinification. Research and experimentation work is being carried out by the AOC Corbières union on the ageing and maturing of wines.
Rosé: by saignée.
White: skin maceration, (vinification in barrels for certain wines).

• Key figures
  10 000 ha of vines
  2 000 producers
  80 cooperative wine producers
  450 private wine producers

• Average yield
  47 hl/hectare

• Average production
  400 000 hl (78% red, 10% rosé, 12% white)

• Sales
  General Distribution: 72 000 hl (22%)
  Export: 145 500 hl (43%)
  On-site sales (60%)