Blanquette de Limoux is an appellation for sparkling wines from an area of southern France in the Pyrenean foothills, just south of Carcassonne. Limoux is a town at the center of this area, and for centuries has lent its name to the local sparkling wines. 'Blanquette' is a local name for the Mauzac grape variety, from which these wines are predominantly made. Confusingly, there are three other local varieties which are sometimes known as Blanquette (Bourboulenc, Clairette and Ondenc), none of which play any part in Blanquette de Limoux wines.
Blanquette de Limoux wines are produced from Mauzac grapes, complemented by varying proportions of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Historically, the proportion of Mauzac used was much greater than it is today, but the appellation laws were adjusted to allow winemakers to include a larger proportion of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, bringing the wines in line with modern styles and consumer demand.
The region's vineyards are higher and cooler than any other Languedoc-Roussillon appellation, and further from the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. Within the region there are distinctly different climatic zones, depending on factors such as altitude, soil types and the influence of the Atlantic or Mediterranean. This variation leads Limoux and the surrounding area to produce a style of wines entirely distinct from other Languedoc appellations, even those very nearby. The Chardonnay vines planted here are particularly valued, as they are some of the oldest in southern France.
As is the case in several regions in southern France, local people claim that their sparkling wines pre-date those of Champagne, although such claims are always difficult to substantiate. In keeping with ancient traditions, wines are still made under the appellation Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale, which produces slightly sweeter, lower-alcohol sparkling wines; they are cloudy in appearance because they are left with their lees even after the secondary fermentation.
Cremant de Limoux (made from a greater percentage of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc) is produced here as a modern-style alternative to Blanquette de Limoux. Red and still white wines are also produced, under the appellation AOC Limoux.
