Collioure is a village in the south-eastern corner of the France, close to the border with Spain. It is one of four villages which make wines under the Collioure appellation. This tiny appellation produces powerful dry red and white wines from the most southerly of France's vineyards, within the parishes of Cerbere, Collioure, Port-Vendres and Banyuls.
The last of these names is of particular importance, because the Banyuls and Collioure appellations are inextricably linked. Collioure wines are the area's dry table wines, while those labeled Banyuls are the sweet wines produced from exactly the same vineyards. The proportion of grapes that become Collioure or Banyuls wine in any one year depends on the particular characteristics of the vintage.
Until recently, AOC Collioure wines were exclusively red or rose, but changes to the appellation law in July 2003 allowed white wines also to be made under the appellation. Red Collioure is characterized by its intensely ripe, fruit aromas and elements of spice, while the white version is the richest of French white wines, full-bodied and deeply perfumed.
Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre make up 60% of any Collioure blend, with Carignan and Cinsaut forming the remaining 40% in varying proportions. Mourvedre is not part of the Banyuls wine blend, so all Mourvedre grapes grown here are intended for Collioure wines. The rose wines are made from these same principal grapes, but with an addition of up to 30% Grenache Gris. Collioure white wines – a new addition to the appellation's output, as mentioned above – are made predominantly from Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris.
The wines from this part of France are evocative of the landscapes where they are grown. The villages and vineyards of Cerbere, Collioure, Port-Vendres and Banyuls are popular tourist destinations, perched on high cliff tops overlooking the western Mediterranean below.
