Catbernet Sauvignon
Grown in nearly every major wine producing country, the origin of Cabernet Sauvignon is closely linked to the region of Bordeaux.
For this reason, we chose Catbernet Sauvignon to represent the wines produced in the south of France, whose main regions are:
The main wine regions of the south of France are:
✤ Bordeaux
✤ Southwest France
✤ Northern Rhone
✤ Southern Rhone
✤ Southern France
Bordeaux:Where modern wine industry was born
This region deserves a chapter on its own, as it is the largest appellation in France in terms of both volume and value. The main regions are:
✾ Medoc: North of the city of Bordeaux, in the left bank of the Gironde river, the wines of Médoc are mostly Bordeaux blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than their counterparts of the right bank.
✾ Pessac Leognan and Graves: Similar style to Medoc, with lighter and more fragrant wines than that region. This region can produce also white dry wines, usually blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon
✾ Entre Deux Mers: Only produce white wines, mostly from Sauvignon Blanc.
✾ Saint Emilion and Pomerol: Famous for its Bordeaux blends where Merlot is predominant. Saint Émilion is slightly larger while Pomerol tend to produce spicier and richer wines.
✾ Sauternes: Home of the most famous sweet wine of France made from Sémillon, a variety that is susceptible to botrytis
HEY THERE! I’M CATBERNET SAUVIGNON, WOULD YOU TO LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ME?
My name comes from the most planted grape variety in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape owned its fame in the french region of Bordeaux where, together with Merlot, are the base of some of the most iconic and expensive wines in the world. Located on the banks of the river Garonne, on the left bank the predominant grape variety in the blends is Cabernet Sauvignon while on the right bank the predominant grape variety is Merlot. Bordeaux wines age well in barrel and in bottle, gaining amazing complexity as times goes by.
Cellars have historically attracted rodents, as they can easily hide among the barrels. That’s the reason why, from ancient times, we have reached a pact with Bordeaux winemakers: in exchange of our hunting services we get food and a warm place to sleep during the winter cold nights. It’s a hard work, of course, but someone must do it and we take it very seriously: not a single vintage have been ruined by mice in all history thanks to generations of specialised cellar cats.
In the picture I’m dressed as a vigneron, tasting how the wine is evolving with the help of a wine taster, lying over the barrel. They are at the heart of Bordeaux wines reputation and it’s thank to them that we get to enjoy some of the best wines in the world.
Southwest France: Beyond Bordeaux
While nobody can dispute the importance of Bordeaux, the southwest of France is also home of some of the most interesting wine regions of France with their own signature grapes different from those of Bordeaux:
✾ Cahors: The origin of Malbec
✾ Madiran: House of Tannat
✾ Jurançon: At the foothills of the Pyrenees, the most iconic wines (dry or sweet) are made from Petit Manseng
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Northern Rhone: where Syrah is king
While these regions accounts only for a small fraction of the wines produced in the Rhone Valley, it’s home of many of the premium wines:
✾ Côte Rotie: Is the northernmost appellation and can only produce red wines. Shyrah is the main variety, however the wines might have up to 20% of Viognier, a white grape variety
✾ Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage: in spite of its small size, Hermitage is one of the most prestigious appelations of France thanks to its wines made from Shyrah. Crozes-Hermitage is a larger appellation that surrounds Hermitage and accounts for the vast majority of wines produced in the northern Rhone. The style and quality varies significantly depending of the location but, as well as in Hermitage, the vast majority of wines are made from Shyrah.
✾ Saint Joseph: The vast majority are red wines made from Shyrah, although it’s possible to find some white wines from Marsanne and Rousanne
✾ Cornas: the southernmost and warmest of the regions, the wines must be made from 100% Syrah
✾ Condrieu: An appellation where only white wine is allowed, solely from the Viognier grape
Southern Rhone: The French capital of Grenache
A Region dominated by red wines, mostly from Grenache, the signature grape of the region. Shyra, Mourvedre and Cinsault are planted here too. The main regions are:
✾ Côtes du Rhone: The vast majority of production falls under this appellation. The most prestigious wines comes from Cotes du Rhone villages and are often blends of Grenache, Shyrah and Mourvedre
✾ Chateauneuf du Pape: The first area of France to obtain the Appelation Controlee status, this region is characterised by wines where Grenache dominates and it’s not difficult to find wines made 100% from this variety. The second most important variety is Mourvedre
✾ Travel and Lilac: the only two southern crus on the west bank of the Rhone, Travel and Lilac are most famous for the production of rosé made from Grenache and Cinsault
Southern France: The birthplace of French viticulture
This encompasses a vast area, from the Spanish border to the Italian one, thus a great diversity of landscapes, soils and climates can be found. It’s considered the driest region of France so the main challenge is drought. Black varieties account for the majority of the planting. The most important regions are:
✾ Languedoc: This generic appellation goes from the Spanish border to the Rhone valley. The best subregions can add their names to their labels while others have their own specific appellations, like Minervois and Corbieres. The main varieties are Carignan, Grenache and Shiraz and most appellations allow the production of red, rosé and white wines
✾ Provence: From the Rhone valley to the Italian border, this region is known worldwide for its rosé wines. Their attractive pale colour and light body has become the standard for the rosés in the mind of most consumers around the world.
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