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As of February 17 of this year, Pic-Saint-Loup is France’s newest official appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) wine region! If the name sounds familiar, the area (found within the Hérault and Gard departments in Southwest France) has been an approved subzone of the Languedoc AOC and somewhat known for its blended-variety red and rosé wines.
According to the website of the INAO, Pic-Saint-Loup (sometimes written as Pic-St-Loup or Pic St-Loup) is now a stand-alone AOC, approved for both red and rosé wines. The first Pic-Saint-Loup AOC designations will show up on wines from the 2017 vintage.
The red wines of the Pic-Saint-Loup must be at least 12% alcohol by volume and be comprised of a minimum of 50% Syrah. A measure of either Grenache Noir or Mourvèdre is required, and small amounts of Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, and Morrastel (known elsewhere as Graciano) are also permitted.
The requirements of the Pic-Saint-Loup rosé AOC are similar, but the required amount of Syrah is set at a minimum of 30%. A proportion of Grenache Noir or Mourvèdre is still required (as many of the wines of the Languedoc are traditionally blends); Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, and Morrastel are allowed in the mix as well.
So, what is next for the Languedoc? No one can say for sure…place your bets! But for now, welcome to the world Pic-Saint-Loup AOC!
References/for further information:
- http://www.inao.gouv.fr/eng/Official-texts
- http://www.pic-saint-loup.com/
- http://offlicencenews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/16404/Southern_belles.html
- http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/herault/montpellier-metropole/montpellier/vignoble-du-pic-saint-loup-obtient-label-aoc-part-entiere-1084713.html
- https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/02/pic-saint-loup-awaits-final-aoc-nod/
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles, CSE, CWE – your blog administrator
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