Haute Vallee de l’Aude is an IGP title covering wines from an area in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. The IGP covers an area that roughly corresponds to the vineyards of Limoux and Malepere, and allows winegrowers a wider choice of both grape varieties and vinification techniques than in these AOC-level appellations.
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The catchment area of Haute Vallee de l’Aude lies in the Aude administrative department, and is separated from the Mediterranean by a range of coastal mountains that reach heights of up to 2000ft (600m) above sea level. As such, the transitional continental climate more closely resembles parts of South-West France rather than the hot, dry coastal areas of the Languedoc. The area is subject to cooler westerly winds from the Atlantic which heavily moderate the otherwise Mediterranean climate.
Many of the IGP vineyards are found on sloped sites above the Limoux vineyards where exposure to both sun and wind is maximized, aiding ripening and ensuring a balance of flavor and acidity in the grapes. On these upper slopes, sandstone-derived soils of clay, sand and gravel offer well-drained sites for viticulture, while denser, limestone-dominant sites produce richly flavored grapes for Limoux and Malepere wines.
The Haute Vallee de l’Aude IGP has a relatively short list of permitted grape varieties, particularly unusual for this part of southern France. This list includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Viognier, all of which are produced either as a part of a blend, or increasingly as single-varietal wines. Around two thirds of Haute Vallee de l’Aude IGP wines are white.
Haute Vallee de l’Aude IGP was known as Vin de Pays de la Haute Vallee de l’Aude until 2009, when the Vin de Pays category was renamed as Indication Géographique Protégée. As well as bringing labeling vernacular in line with that of the European Union, the name change was also seen by French wine authorities as a way to cast off the poor consumer image of Vin de Pays.
