Visiting Vineyards near Montpellier in Languedoc

Meet Wine-Makers, Tour Wineries, Taste Wines in the South of France

Oct 3, 2009

Near Montpellier in Languedoc is a wide range of wineries to visit and wines to taste, with women wine-makers, organic wines, and the chance to walk in the vineyards.

For a long time the vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon in the South of France were better known for quantity rather than quality wines. In recent years all that has started to change, though, and there are innovative new wine-makers and wineries producing medal-winning wines all over the region. Many of these are close to the region's capital, Montpellier, and can easily be reached by car.

Vineyards near Montpellier

Montpellier is also the capital of the Hérault department of Languedoc-Roussillon, and close to the neighboring department of Gard. In these two departments, both easily explored on day-trips or on longer trips from Montpellier, can be found an amazingly varied collection of vineyards.

Visiting the Vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon

Most vineyards make wine in the same way, and it can be repetitive visiting winery after winery. In Languedoc-Roussillon, however, many of the vineyards are distinctly different, and the pleasure comes not only from tasting the wine but also from meeting the people who produce it.

The Art of Wine-Making

Villa Dondona in Montpeyroux is owned by André Suquet and English artist Jo Lynch. André is a retired doctor although people say that by turning to wine-making he has gone on treating people. They live in an ancient house, parts of which date back to the 10th century and which was once a reception for passing travellers on the route to Santiago de Compostela. Visits here must be booked in advance and are tours like no other. They do everything by hand and take visitors around in the back of a land-rover, perhaps stopping to pick figs from the trees and to enjoy the wonderful views across the valley around Montpeyroux.

Making Wine the Roman Way

At Mas des Tourelles they not only make regular wine but they also produce wine in the same way the ancient Romans did. There is a Roman archaeological site which can be visited as part of the vineyard tour, and once a year in September a Roman Harvest takes place. Here visitors can see grapes crushed in the old-fashioned way using a huge oak tree with a trunk about two-feet across. Romans flavored and preserved their wines with fenugreek, honey, resin, coriander and other items. The resulting very unusual wines can be sampled and bought in the shop and tasting room.

A Woman Wine-Maker

Domaine Pech-Tort is a new label and winery started recently by a young woman, Nadège Jeanjean, with the help of her father, Francis. Nadège's family had always made wine for themselves, but she decided to go commercial and start her own label early in 2009. One of her wines, a delicious rosé, has already won a Silver Medal in competition, and a Burgundy-style chardonnay is also wonderfully tasty. Nadège called her red Entre Copains, Between Friends, because the first harvest was done with the help of friends and relatives. 'I had no money,' Nadège explains.

The Children's Vineyard

The wine villages of Chusclan and Laudun in the Côtes du Rhône recently won a prestigious 'Vignobles et Paysages' prize for their efforts at promoting their joint wine heritage. The enterprising local vineyards have built wine trails and recreational facilities, have planted a vineyard especially for the local children to tend, and have even bought the ruined castle, the Chateau de Gicon, which they are converting for visitors to enjoy. The views from the Chateau over the local countryside and vineyards, including the nearby Châteauneuf du Pape, are quite stunning.

Own Your Own Patch of Vineyard

At Le Clos Boisé anyone can rent their own patch of French vineyard. This organic winery, which also has accommodation and its own restaurant, allows visitors to lease a certain number of vines each season. This can be done in person or online, with the minimum number of vines that can be rented being 50. People can choose their vines according to the grape variety they like, and can join in the harvesting if they wish. If not, the vineyard will produce the wine, and even include a personalised wine label. It has proved a popular idea, especially if someone wants their own label wines for a wedding or other special occasion. At the time of writing, 50 vines producing 50 bottles of wine cost 300 euros, or just €6 a bottle, including personalised label.

For more information on visiting these and other vineyards in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France contact:

The copyright of the article Visiting Vineyards near Montpellier in Languedoc in France Travel is owned by Mike Gerrard. Permission to republish Visiting Vineyards near Montpellier in Languedoc in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.