Clairette du Languedoc

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The landscape of the Clairette du Languedoc geographical area progressively shifts from east to west, from the terraces of the Hérault river, to hills and small valleys with gentle slopes, to the steeper hillsides of the schistous Cabrières sector.
• The Clairette du Languedoc geographical area is bordered to the north by the foothills of the Larzac plateau, to the east by the Rocher des Vierges and the Hérault river, to the south by the basaltic plateau of Nizas, and to the west by the Neffiès plateau, the Pic du Vissou and the Salagou region.
• This area lies at the meeting point of the primary terrain of the eastern tip of the Montagne Noire and the Miocene marine deposits, over which the Hérault and its tributaries have spread their stony alluvium, with localized basaltic flows and outcrops that mark the landscape.
• The most characteristic soils develop mainly on the stony middle and high terraces, on the most indurated outcrops of Miocene limestone, on primary Triassic terrain, locally on limestone and sandstone, and on the schists of Cabrières.
• The Mediterranean climate is sheltered from north winds, with a maritime influence more pronounced in the south than in the north, resulting in average annual rainfall graduated from 500 to 800 millimetres across the 11 communes of Hérault.

• In the Middle Ages and then after the Renaissance, wine made from grapes harvested at high ripeness, often maderized, was called “Picardan” when dry and “Clairette” when sweet.
• From the 15th century onward, wines rich in fermentable sugars were progressively made by fortification with alcohol and showed, like dry rancio-style wines, a great natural capacity for keeping; they withstood transport equally well by land or by sea, to the great delight of the Dutch, who traded heavily in them from 1680.
• After the phylloxera crisis, the replanting of the clairette vineyard was only partial and took place mainly in the communes of the geographical area, with producers then directing their production, until the early 20th century, toward the making of vermouth.
• Building on their expertise in making dry wines, in managing the overripening of the clairette grape variety, and in fortification for vin de liqueur, producers obtained recognition as the Clairette du Languedoc appellation d'origine contrôlée on 28 September 1948, following an application filed as early as 1936.

• Dry Clairette du Languedoc wines show a deep yellow colour, generally citrus aromas, and a characteristic touch of bitterness on the finish that extends the wine's length.
• Sweet Clairette du Languedoc wines may show, after fermentation, up to 45 grams per litre of fermentable sugars, with a smooth attack, aromas close to fresh fruit, and a round palate.
• Wines bearing the “Rancio” designation undergo long aging of at least 3 years, during which controlled, gradual oxidation allows the development of their brown colour and their characteristic aroma of fresh walnut, and these are wines for long cellaring.
• Clairette du Languedoc vins de liqueur are smooth and long on the palate, develop aromas of stewed fruit and dried fruit, and can be enjoyed decades after they are made.

• The delimitation of plots with shallow soils and good water balance allows control of vine vigour and yield potential, achieved through short pruning and suitable planting densities.
• Control of yields, optimal ripeness conditions, and the historical ability to withstand transport give Clairette du Languedoc wines a structure favourable to aging and allowing for long cellaring, particularly for wines labelled “rancio”.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Clairette du Languedoc Adissan AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Aspiran AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Cabrières AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Ceyras AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Fontès AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Le Bosc AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Lieuran-Cabrières AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Nizas AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Paulhan AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Péret AOC (PDO)
• Clairette du Languedoc Saint-André-de-Sangonis AOC (PDO)

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 26 octobre 2011, JORF 29 octobre 2011
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVL