AOC Crémant de Limoux

Appellation area

25 km to the south of Carcassonne, nestled in the upper valley of the Aude between the Chalabrais plateau to the west and the Lecamp plateau to the east and sheltered by the Pyrenees, this appellation area is quite homogenous and encompasses 41 communities.

Geology

The southern hills reserved for this appellation are covered with a combination of light and stony argilo-calcareous soils.

Climate

The natural protection on three sides of the appellation area limits the maritime influences giving it an oceanic, Mediterranean climate.

Grapes

Crémant: Chardonnay (40% mini) Chenin (20 % mini), Chardonnay + Chenin (90% maxi).

Vinification

Crémant: after an initial fermentation, the basic wines for each grape are extracted and assemblage begins. Racking liquor is added to begin a second fermentation process in the bottle. The wine is allowed to froth. After nine months of storage, existing deposits are eliminated then an expeditious liquor is added giving the wine its dry or extra rich character. The bottle is then definitively corked.

The Crémant is stored for at least 12 months on slats and sold 15 months after it is bottled.

Key figures

1 800 ha declared
400 producers
8 trade houses
2 cooperative wine producers
24 private wine producers

Average yield

40 hl/hectare (sparkling)

Production

Crémant de Limoux 30 000 hl

Sales

9 millions bottles (storehouse outputs 2006)
General Distribution: 26%
Export: 25%