Coteaux de Narbonne is an IGP title for red, white and rosé wines that come from an area in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. Covering a similar area to the Languedoc cru La Clape, the IGP produces a range of mostly red wines, from both classic Mediterranean grapes like Grenache and Carignan, as well as more international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
© Wikimedia/Nancy
The IGP encompasses 11 communes in the Aude department, covering the low coastal hills between the city of Narbonne and the Mediterranean coast, along the border with Herault. The sizeable vineyard of Corbieres lies to the south of the area, while the Minervois and St-Chinian appellations lie on the slopes of the Montagne Noir to the northwest.
The area surrounding Narbonne has a classic Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. Rainfall comes mostly in the spring and autumn, although this is still fairly negligible. Wind is a far more important climatic consideration in the region: strong northwesterly winds sweep through the vineyards and keep disease pressure to a minimum, while lighter sea breezes from the Mediterranean bring moisture and cool the vineyards overnight. This helps to negate the effects of bright sunshine, and allows grapes a daily rest from ripening, ensuring a balance of acidity and flavor.
Soils in the Coteaux de Narbonne vineyards are mainly made of limestone, although an area closer to the coast is marked by deeper alluvial soils left by the Aude river. These soils offer a range of environments for vines, leading to a good diversity of grape varieties planted here. In fact, the Coteaux de Narbonne IGP laws permit a long list of grape varieties to be included in the wines. As in many of the Languedoc’s IGPs, this is dominated by blended wines, but varietally labeled wines are becoming more and more common. Internationally recognized varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are becoming classics of the IGP category, a trend that extends to Coteaux de Narbonne.
The area was formerly covered by the Vin de Pays des Coteaux de Narbonne designation, although following changes to French wine law in 2009, it is now just known as Coteaux de Narbonne IGP. The Vin de Pays category has been dropped entirely due to its poor consumer image, and French regional wines will now be known as Indication Géographique Protégée, or IGP.
