Page last updated 2 September 2009                                                 Where to stay in Languedoc

Languedoc - Wines and More - 2009

Our summer wine tour this year was to Languedoc, to follow up on the Picpoul de Pinet grape we discovered last summer when in Cannes.

Languedoc is a late arrival to France and a beautiful area nestling on the Mediterranean between Provence, the Pyrenees and Spain - with coastal towns and cities such as Sète and Montpellier.

Photos Wingsland Photography: Left to right: Marseillan Beach, Marseillan and Sète.

We were keen to meet the winemakers of our Bin 36 Picpoul de Pinet - we quote from our wine list: , "Picpoul de Pinet Domaine Sainte-Anne, Coteaux de Languedoc, France 2007/8 is a bright and fresh fuller bodied dry wine with citrussy fruit - this is an interesting alternative to the fashionable Pinot Grigio. From humble beginnings in the sleepy village of Pinet the Picpoul grape variety is gaining in following."

The whole production from the Domaine of Sainte-Anne is sold to the wholesale trade but we tracked the Domaine down to the village of Pinet at the centre of the AOC (Abbreviation for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, (English: Appellation of controlled origin), as specified under French law. The AOC laws specify and delimit the geography from which a particular wine (or other food product) may originate and methods by which it may be made. The regulations are administered by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO)).

The Wine Cooperative, Cave de L'Ormarine, encompasses the Domain Sainte-Anne and we met their friendly team and tasted a number of Picpoul de Pinet wines of the Gold standard - which will be available at our Bastille Night - more here!

Photos Wingsland Photography: Left to right: Domaine Saint-Anne, Lynne at the Wine Coooperative and the limestone Terroir!

The Art of Wine Making

We then visited a vibrant and passionate wine maker Fabienne Capello. Her Latin roots and Southern generosity are quite naturally reflected in the personality of her wines which wowed us so that we brought some back for your delight at Bastille Night.

Fabienne runs the Domaine Belle-Mare Winery which sits on the side of the sea lake Thau near Sète:-

This was Languedoc hospitaility at its best - a wine and oyster tasting, art gallery and classical concert in a state of the art winery - hosted by a passionate Italian/French lady who's energy and enthusiam were just oozing as you can see from the photos below!

	Fabienne introducing the Trio	Concert in the Wine Hall!
The Art of Wine Making!		Tasting the Picpoul in Pezanes Apartment...

We will soon be selling wines from the Belle Mare Vineyard at Pepper & Oz! Come and sample their unique flavours and aromas.

Accommodation

We stayed in Pezenas in a wonderful apartment owned by local Malvern couple Amanda and Tim - details here and flew RyanAir from Bristol to Beziers (15 minutes from Pezenas).


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