Cremant de Limoux is an appellation for the modern-styled sparkling wines from vineyards around the town of Limoux, in the Pyrenean foothills of southern France. They are made from Mauzac, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, with an emphasis on the latter two more fashionable varieties. Historically, the local wines were made predominantly, or even exclusively,from Mauzac, known here as Blanquette. This more traditional variety survives today in Blanquette de Limoux and Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale wines. The creation of the Cremant de Limoux appellation in 1990 was an attempt to allow modernization in local winemaking while preserving the traditional wine styles of the area.
The local vineyards are higher and cooler than those in any other Languedoc-Roussillon appellation and further from the influence of the Mediterranean Sea. This leads Limoux and the surrounding area to produce a style of wine that is entirely distinct from other appellations – even those which are nearby, such as Corbieres. The Chardonnay vines here are some of the oldest in the south of France, producing wines which are particularly sought-after.
