Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The soils of the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert production area are predominantly calcareous, with Secondary-era gravels and marls, as well as Quaternary terraces along the edges of the upper and middle valley of the Hérault.
• Two limestone massifs frame the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert vineyard: Mont Baudile to the west and Pic Saint-Loup to the east of the territory.
• Annual rainfall of around 800 to 900 mm moderates the more extreme aspects of the Mediterranean climate, and, since the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert vineyard lies well inland from the Mediterranean, sea spray influence is greatly reduced.
• The presence of the mountains creates significant diurnal temperature ranges and shields the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert vineyard from northerly winds; the vineyard is predominantly planted at between 100 and 150 metres above sea level.
• The Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert production area extends over roughly fifty kilometres, at the foot of the Larzac plateau and the Cévennes mountains, in a landscape of Mediterranean hills.

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

Dénominations géographiques complémentaires

• Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert Cité d'Aniane PGI
• Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert Val de Montferrand PGI

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 13 janvier 2022, JORF 20 janvier 2022
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Confédération des Vins IGP de France