Coteaux d’Enserune is an IGP title for red, white and rose wines that come from the area immediately south of Beziers in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region of southern France. Though the area is not covered by any AOC-level appellations save for a small portion of the regional Languedoc appellation, it is still home to a considerable amount of viticulture, based largely on red grape varieties such as Grenache, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
© Wikimedia/Mário José Martins
The official vineyard area of the Coteaux d’Enserune lies on a thin strip of land within the Herault department running from the southern foothills of the Montagne Noir to the Mediterranean coast. Here, a series of limestone plateaus provides a suitable terrain for viticulture, with some variation in soil depth and texture that gives rise to a wide array of wine styles.
The area enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Heat during the growing season is tempered by fresh sea breezes, which cool the berries and allow the berries to develop acidity alongside phenolic ripeness. Rainfall comes mainly in spring and in autumn, providing water to hydrate vines.
Most wines made under the Coteaux d’Enserune IGP are red, with a much smaller proportion of white. Many of these wines are classic Mediterranean blends from varieties such as Grenache and Carignan. However, international consumer trends have seen an increase in varietal wines made from the typical IGP grape varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah or Merlot. White wines tend to be made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc or Viognier.
The Coteaux d’Enserune IGP was previously called Vin de Pays des Coteaux d’Enserune. In 2009, the Vin de Pays category began to be phased out of French wine law, to be replaced with Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP). This corresponds more closely to European Union wine labeling standards, as well as throwing off some of the poor image associated with Vin de Pays.
