Step 1 – Perpignan (Roussillon)

Edition 2021 Step 1 – Perpignan (Roussillon) Step 2 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Step 3 – Cebreros Step 4 – Ascoli Piceno

Roussillon: The Home of the Four Grenache Varietals

Set between the sea and the mountains, Roussillon offers an extremely varied range of landforms along with a sunny, hot climate conducive to growing vines. An authentic amphitheatre facing the mediterranean to the East, it is bordered by three mountains ranges: the Corbieres in the North, the Pyrenees with Mount Canigou in the West, and the Alberes in the South. Roussillon is home to an extensive range of vineyards sites, as evidenced by its 14 AOC and 2 PGI.

Grenache is a staple varietal in the vineyards of Roussillon. It is a grape that craves warmth and dryness, and loves long, hot days and cool nights to slowly ripen. Roussillon therefore quite naturally offers it a prime location, conducive to growing the full range of Grenache varieties. Originally, only Grenache noir was grown but gradually Grenache gris and Grenache blanc developed. The variety now accounts for approximately 31% of the region’s area under vine. It is well-suited to the local soils and can therefore produce white, red and rosé wines, as well as dessert wines.

A fourth grape variety, derived from Grenache noir – Lledoner Pelut – has also been introduced. It is relatively similar to its cousin Grenache noir, not only for its characteristics and capabilities, but also in terms of flavour and aroma profile.

Grenache noir is currently used to produce 4 dessert wines – Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru, Maury and Rivesaltes – along with 9 dry appellation wines (Collioure, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages and named villages, and Maury Sec) and 2 PGIs (Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille). Grenache gris and blanc, previously only used for dessert wines, now impart their typical Mediterranean character to white wines from the finest Roussillon vineyards.

ROUSSILLON AND ITS DESSERT WINES

Grenache reigns supreme when it comes to dessert wines and is often blended with Macabeu. It is used to produce all appellation dessert wines, apart from Muscat de Rivesaltes. Dessert wines – or Vins Doux Naturels – owe the discovery of their production process (fortification) in 1285 to Arnaud de Villeneuve and are an integral and unique part of Roussillon’s rich heritage. These timeless wines are an essential component of the region’s range, epitomising its history and encapsulating the soul of its winegrowers. They continue to appeal today for their elegance and sensuality. The amber-hued white dessert wines display aromas that flow into honey, coffee and dried fruits, whilst the brick-hued reds deliver scents of candied fruits and cacao.

Dry Rancios
No description of Roussillon would be complete without a mention of its dry rancios. These jewels in the region’s crown are labelled as PGI Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille along with the dry rancio descriptor. They have travelled down through the centuries and offer historical evidence of Roussillon’s wine culture. Made primarily from the Grenache grape variety, the wines are dry because all of their sugar is turned into alcohol. The name ‘rancio’ stems from the fact that they are matured in an oxidative environment for several years and have quite simply developed a unique flavour, described as ‘rancio’. Roasted coffee, liquorice stick, walnut, curry, hazelnut, toasted nuts and brandy are all characteristic aromas of these wines.

Interview with Stéphane Zanella, President of CIVR

  • The Roussillon is a land of Grenache par excellence: how do you explain this privileged relationship?

The Roussillon has a vocation as a land of welcome and passage, which is reflected in the diversity of its wines, its climates and its soils. In addition, there is a wide range of unique wines such as rancios and natural sweet wines which are real oenological treasures.

The Roussillon has a vocation as a land of welcome and passage, which is reflected in the diversity of its wines, its climates and its soils. In addition, there is a wide range of unique wines such as rancios and natural sweet wines which are real oenological treasures.

What unites our wines is their ampelographic DNA, clearly anchored in the Mediterranean. Grenache in all its colours defines us, and this is certainly why Grenaches du Monde has a special relationship with Roussillon.

  • The Grenaches du Monde competition was born in Roussillon and by the hand of the CIVR: what are its characteristics? What is its appeal to the wines that enter? And those who win prizes?

I believe that this competition is a reflection of the values of the grape variety. Openness, welcome, blending, conviviality: everything that we lack at the moment given the sanitary context. Grenache and its competition are a formidable vaccine to the ambient gloom! Joking aside, the competition is a precious tool that sets a date in the professional agenda to highlight the grape variety and its terroirs. Giving these wines an international exposure that they have long been denied.

  • This event is characterised by collaboration between producing regions: how do you explain this feat?

This interregional collaboration is unique in the world of wine. Once again, the event is a reflection of the grape variety: it is an open and generous event, where everyone can bring their passion, their singularity or their difference.

  • Finally, one or more favourites, wine or region that Grenaches du Monde has allowed you to discover?

The list is long! From the seductive rosés of Pays d'Oc, to the minerality of the wines of Cebreros, the elegance of the wines of the Marches and the splendour of Châteauneuf du Pape, not to mention the depth of the Aragonese grenaches, the authenticity of the Sardinian cannonau or the finesse of the white grenaches of Terra Alta, I believe that this year will still hold many surprises in store. Grenache has it all, white, rosé, red, sweet, dry, rancio, like Roussillon which is spearheading these wines, and will host this year one of the 4 decentralised tastings of Grenaches du Monde.

Winegrowers
Winegrowers
2 300
Special cellars
Special cellars
417
Cooperative cellars
Cooperative cellars
28
Winegrower-broker
Winegrower-broker
30
Surface area
Surface area
19 676 ha
Marketing
Marketing
622 319 hl

Competition location

Perpignan (Roussillon)