Coteaux de Glanes is an IGP title covering wines that are produced in an area in the Lot department of South-West France. While the IGP is not nearly as famous or highly regarded as the AOC-level vineyards of Cahors to the south, a range of wines are made under the Coteaux de Glanes title, the most noted of which come from the Merlot and Gamay grape varieties.
The official vineyard zone lies in a valley to the south of where the Dordogne river crosses Lot, before flowing west toward the vineyards of Bordeaux. Here, in the southwestern foothills of the Massif Central mountain range, a small area of vineyard covers the best sites of a part of France that is not usually associated with viticulture.
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The Dordogne and its tributaries Cere, Mamoul and Bave have carved a rugged landscape from the limestone plateau that covers the area. This topography offers vignerons a range of mesoclimates suitable for viticulture and vineyards are often planted at the top of hills where there is good exposure to sunlight and prevailing winds.
The presence of the Massif Central means that the Coteaux de Glanes area has a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Autumn in the region also tends to be warm and sunny, which allows grapes to reach optimum ripeness. Calcareous clay soils offer good water retention, allowing the spring rains to provide hydration throughout the growing season.
Coteaux de Glanes IGP wines are predominantly red, with Merlot and Gamay joined in the vineyards by more local grape varieties such as Fer Souvadou and Cot (Malbec). The few white wines that are made here come from Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, among others.
Vines have been planted in this part of France for hundreds of years, as the presence of the Dordogne and its many tributaries has meant that the northern part of Lot has long been a thoroughfare for trade. The area was first recognized as an official wine growing appellation in 1981, titled Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Glanes. Since 2009, the appellation has been known as Coteaux de Glanes IGP instead, as the Vin de Pays category has been scrapped in favor of the more image-conscious Indication Géographique Protégée.
