Wines of Collioure

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On the Côte Vermeille, at the meeting point where the Pyrenees plunge into the Mediterranean, Greeks and Phoenicians founded the port of Collioure . Their presence led to the establishment of the first vineyards on the hillsides overlooking the town. In this Catalan terroir , the southernmost in the Occitanie region, the vines enjoy superb sunshine. They draw their sap from the brown schist slopes, carved into terraces. Locally called feixas , these terraces overlook the surroundings of the three other towns in the appellation: Banyuls , Port-Vendres , and Cerbère . On the sometimes steep slopes, where manual viticulture is practiced, the typical Mediterranean grape varieties of the appellation thrive. Frequently growing together on the same plot are Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, which are the dominant varieties, but also Carignan, Cinsault, and Grenache Gris and Blanc. Collioure wines are produced in red, rosé, and white varieties. On the same terroir, the naturally sweet wines of Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru mature in the cellars . Bathed in sunshine, they showcase Grenache Noir grapes, which, through careful aging and maturation, develop to reach the full potential of their aromas.

As of December 19, 2023, the Côte Vermeille Winegrowers' Association, which includes the Collioure and Banyuls appellations , withdrew from the Roussillon Wine Interprofessional Committee. Passionately committed to promoting their terroir, distinguished by its exceptional winemaking heritage, the winegrowers are now united under the generic brand Les Vignerons sur Mer (The Winegrowers by the Sea ).

Where to taste Collioure wines?

Domains and winegrowers of Collioure

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Regional area of ​​AOP Collioure

Getting to know Collioure wines better

Summaries of the specifications for the Collioure PDO

Geography of the Collioure vineyards

Terroir geology

Clinging to the slopes of the Pyrenees-Orientales, the Collioure vineyard is the southernmost in France. It stretches between mari i mont , meaning "sea and mountain" in Catalan. Descending sharply from the 917-meter summit of the Pic de Sailfort to sea level, it is spectacular for its very steep hillsides. Four port towns occupy the coastal fringes of this vineyard on the " Côte Vermeille ": Cerbère, Banyuls-sur-Mer, Port-Vendres, and Collioure.

The natural boundaries of the Collioure PDO are identical to those of the Banyuls PDO, with which it is indistinguishable:

• Mediterranean Sea to the east;
• Pyrenean ridges forming a border with Spain to the south;
• piedmont of Albères and plain of Roussillon to the north;
• Pyrenean chain to the west.

The uplift of the Pyrenees mountain range created a highly rugged landscape. Small amphitheaters alternate with viewpoints overlooking the sea. The geological formations contribute to the area's distinctive identity: the Collioure vineyards are rooted in brown schist with low water retention capacity. Cultivated on terraces called feixas , the vineyard plots rise to altitudes of up to 400 meters. Descending in steps from the heights to the valleys, they occupy, at their lowest points, alluvial strips of filtering, stony soil fed by the streams that drain the wine-growing region.

Like the rest of Roussillon , the Collioure AOP benefits from a high annual sunshine rate. It enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers. The average temperature, around 15°C, varies depending on altitude. Although the average temperature may seem moderate, the vines are subjected to significant temperature fluctuations on a daily basis.

Local climate

The altitude interferes just as much with the rainfall which is characterized by an irregular and often violent rain regime. Long periods of summer drought alternate with paroxysmal showers in spring and fall. Erosion and gullying of the soil are precisely at the origin of the development of terraced vines. Another climatic feature is the frequency of winds:

• the "Tramontana", which blows from the north-west with power and drying action, tends to preserve the vines from diseases while having a destructive impact on the young vine twigs in spring;
• the sea wind, oriented east / south-east, favors the fresh and humid sea entrances which temper the summer solar heat.

In this climate of strong contrasts, the vines make up most of a landscape where they rub shoulders with meager wooded areas of cork and holm oaks, olive trees, Mediterranean shrubs and moors.

History of the Collioure vineyard

Phoenician counter

On the Côte Vermeille , vine cultivation dates back to the first Phoenician trading posts established at the port of Collioure around the 7th ^century BC. The region's geological features and climatic conditions necessitated terraced farming from a very early stage. Well-established by the beginning of the Middle Ages, vineyard management was further consolidated under the territorial administration of the Knights Templar . On these steep slopes, the heavy runoff required a unique drainage system. A network of channels called "agouilles" radiates throughout the Collioure vineyards . Dug into the schist soils, whose slabs are then arranged to form the structure, they mark each plot with fan-shaped furrows. This arrangement of converging channels, reminiscent of a rooster's foot, is called " peu de gall" in Catalan.

Maritime commerce

Port towns contributed to the flourishing trade of Collioure wines . From the 1th ^century onwards , wine production was supported by James I ^of Majorca, and later by the kings of Aragon, who redistributed a tax levied on imported wines to the towns. This ensured the high quality of local production. At that time, dry wine was enjoyed either naturally sweet or fortified by the addition of alcohol. With a high alcohol content, it was well-suited for travel and enjoyed great renown in the neighboring courts of Aragon, Castile, and Majorca. The reputation of Collioure wines later spread to northern countries, to which they were transported by sea through the Strait of Gibraltar.

Lease in complant

In 1659, the Treaty of the Pyrenees annexed Roussillon to France. A smuggling economy developed to circumvent the imposition of taxes. With the State threatening intervention, the Intendant of the Province of Roussillon brokered a compromise. He granted subsidies for planting vines to encourage smugglers to become winegrowers. The introduction of the " sharecropping lease " or " dead vine lease, " in use in the Collioure vineyards since medieval times, stimulated viticulture. This method of land ownership grants ownership of the vines to a winegrower who does not own the land. Under this system, the landowner cedes their plot in co-ownership, with the obligation to maintain each vine alive in return. Over time, the regular replacement of dead vines led to the planting of several grape varieties on the same terrace.

Port boom

From the 18th ^century onwards , trade intensified around the port of Port-Vendres. The railway reached Collioure before connecting with Spain. The population grew in proportion to the expansion of port activity. The practice of " sharecropping " made it easier to acquire a plot of vines. Collioure wine experienced a commercial boom thanks to the impetus of wine merchants. Within this commercial context, Abbot Rous developed a small business selling altar wine, which contributed to the restoration of the church in Banyuls.

Phylloxera crisis

The year 1885 marked the late phylloxera crisis. The disease devastated a large part of the Collioure vineyards . However, the Arago Law of 1872, supplemented by the Pams Law of 1898, granted a special tax status to naturally sweet wines. The vineyards then specialized in the production of naturally sweet wines, thus bypassing the reputation acquired for dry wines. From 1936 onwards, the "Banyuls" Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) was granted to naturally sweet wines. Collioure wines were then marketed as " natural wines from the Banyuls terroir " until 1960.

Wines of Collioure

Three colors: red, rosé and white

The Collioure red wine received AOP status in 1971, followed by the recognition of Collioure rosé in 1991 and then Collioure white in 2003. Since then, the Collioure and Banyuls AOPs have overlapped on the same terroir . The red wines, predominantly made from Grenache grapes, derive their deep color and a rich nose where spices and ripe fruit mingle. Their richness is enhanced by a tannic structure conducive to aging. The rosé wines develop a fruity bouquet with bursts of freshness. The white wines are structured around aromas of flowers and honey, from which a light tannic note emerges.