A comprehensive guide to all the wines of the Midi, from Banyuls, next to Spain, to the Italian frontier on the east, as well as the island of Corsica.
The south of France has long been known for the beauty of its landscape but not, admittedly, for the quality of its wines. But, as Rosemary George shows in this book, the vineyards of the Midi are among the most exciting in Europe today. As new areas have opened up, new growers have moved in, and modern techniques have been introduced, the wines produced have improved so much that they are now of a completely different class.
The Wines of the South of France examines the wines of Mediterranean France, not just Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, but extending from Perpignan to beyond Nice and as far inland as C'tes de la Malepre and Cabards. The history, viticulture, and vinification techniques of each area are examined chapter by chapter, with particular focus on those where exciting experiments -including the introduction of grape varieties such as Syrah and Grenache- are taking place. The tradition of mediocre wines is rapidly becoming a thing of the past as a new generation of growers using new techniques and new varieties of grape are now producing wines capable of holding their own with any in the world.
About the Author
Rosemary George is the author of two other Faber wine books, French Country Wines and Wines of New Zealand, and has received the Andr� Simon Award for The Wines of Chablis. She lives in London.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
ix
Introduction
1
From the sixth century BC to the twenty-first century AD: History and Trends
9
Developments in the Vineyard and Cellar
36
ROUSSILLON
59
LANGUEDOC
129
PROVENCE
505
CORSICA
657
Heat Summation Figures
707
List of Vins de Pays for the Region
708
Glossary
711
Bibliography
715
Index
717
