Languedoc | Roussillon | Southwest
From the shores of the Mediterranean to the rolling hills of the Southwest, the Occitanie region offers a range of wines of remarkable richness. This wine heritage is the living memory of regional winegrowing traditions, sustained by the work of winegrowers who, in Languedoc, Roussillon and Southwest France, continue to express the distinctive character and diversity of their terroirs.
Wines of Southwest France, Languedoc and Roussillon
Over 60 PDO
appellations
Over 50 PGI
indications
The Occitanie's vineyards constitute one of the largest and oldest wine-growing regions in Europe. They are the contemporary heirs of an early establishment of the vine that dates back to AntiquityToday they form a continuous southern stretching from the Pyrenean foothills to the foothills of Massif Central, from the Atlantic coast to the shores of the Mediterranean.
This wine-growing area mainly covers the administrative region of Occitanie, while extending westwards into Nouvelle Aquitaine and eastwards into the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur . It encompasses all the major wine-growing regions of Languedoc, Roussillon and Southwest France.
With nearly 263 thousand hectares under vine, covering around 37 thousand hectares in Southwest France and 000 thousand hectares in Languedoc-Roussillon, Occitanie wine region has one of the highest densities of appellations in the world: more than sixty Protected Designations of Origin (AOP) and nearly fifty Protected Geographical Indications (IGP).
Influenced by the oceanic climate to the west, the Mediterranean climate to the east, and tempered by the Pyrenees mountains to the south, and the Cévennes and Montagne Noire mountains to the north, these vineyards offer an incomparable diversity of terroirs, indigenous grape varieties and appellation winesThis territorial plurality makes Occitanie wines an exceptional collection, renowned for its richness wine regions and for thehigh standards of quality of its wines.
Wines from Southwest France or from Languedoc and Roussillon — Pyrenees or Mediterranean?
Vineyards of Southwest France
Vineyards of Southeast France
Latest news from Occitanie’s vineyards
Occitanie wines: grape varieties and distinctive styles
Occitanie wines fall broadly into two main expressions. In Languedoc and Roussillon, the Mediterranean signature of the wines is clearly evident. It appears in many nuances, depending on whether the vineyards lie close to the sea or are set within the surrounding relief of the Pyrenees, the Cévennes or the Massif Central. Red wines are predominant, commonly made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. White wines, meanwhile, have established the reputation of several appellations such as Picpoul de Pinet, Clairette du Languedoc or the sparkling wines of Limoux.
In Southwest France, where oceanic influences are more dominant, the vineyards form a series of scattered wine regions. The character of the wines is often defined by local grape varieties, such as Tannat in the Madiran vineyards, Malbec in the vineyards of Cahors, or Négrette in the Fronton vineyards. The Gaillac vineyards are perhaps the most illustrative example, where the revival of indigenous grape varieties is one of the defining characteristics of the appellation.
From the Mediterranean coast to the rolling landscapes of the Southwest, Occitanie offers a palette of wines of remarkable richness, each revealing the singular expression of its terroirs and preserving the living memory of its traditions.
Wines for summer
La Croix Belle – Cuvées N°7
Occitanie vineyards: a leading region for organic wines
Benefiting from a particularly favourable climate, Occitanie ranks first among French wine regions for vineyard area under organic certification. Supporting responsible winegrowing practices is a key commitment of the regional authority. In Southwest France as in Languedoc-Roussillon, the number of estates whose wines are certified organic or under conversion to organic farming continues to grow. While many are small properties spanning only a few hectares and managed by independent winegrowers, this momentum is also driven by larger winegrowing structures. Together, they contribute to the reputation of organic wines from Occitanie, expressed through the diversity of styles and terroirs found across its appellations.
Vineyards of High Environmental Value
When estates in Occitanie do not benefit from organic certification, they often choose accreditation under High Environmental Value (French environmental certification) (label HVE). This classification, supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, concerns either the entire vineyard or the wines produced by the estate. It guarantees that the vineyards concerned are committed to environmentally responsible practices. Compliance is assessed across several areas: promoting biodiversity, regulating phytosanitary interventions, rationalising fertilisation, and optimising irrigation. As part of this approach promoting sound environmental stewardship in the vineyards of Southwest France and Languedoc-Roussillon, HVE-certified estates are highlighted on Vignobles d’Occitanie.
Explore Occitanie wines on Instagram
As the seasons unfold, the richness of the terroirs of Roussillon, Languedoc and Southwest France is revealed, while Occitanie wines are also featured on Instagram through curated pairings of cuvées and flavours.
Content creation: Elena Joubert, Media Vinea