Cartagene is a vin de liqueur produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. It is made by the addition of grape spirit to grape must, during the early stages of fermentation. Vins de liqueur are similar to vins doux naturels, differing only in that the process of mutage, which prematurely stops fermentation, is carried out at an earlier stage. This leaves the wines with an even higher level of residual sugar and they are thus sweeter than vin doux naturel.
Cartagene wines are usually bright and golden, although occasionally they are made from red grapes and take on a deep ruby color, turning a tawny shade with age. The wines are traditionally consumed cold, as an aperitif.
The grapes used to make these traditional wines are not regulated by appellation laws, and production levels are falling as the region embraces a new, forward-looking (commercially focused) attitude.
Vins de liqueur are produced in several areas of France, most notably Floc de Gascogne in Armagnac and Macvin du Jura in the eastern Jura region.
