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
- Blanquette, ancestral method: 100 % Mauzac.
Vinification
- Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale: completely natural fermentation, bottled during the descending moon at the end of March, less than 7° of alcohol.
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
- Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale 4 000 hl
Sales
- 9 millions bottles (storehouse outputs 2006)
- General Distribution: 26%
- Export: 25%