The AOP Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages is spread across 51 communes in the northern part of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Recognised since 1977, the Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages appellation produces exclusively red wines.
The altitude of this appellation, situated in the foothills of the Corbières massif between 100 and 400 metres above sea level, as well as its distance from the sea, moderates the typical Mediterranean climate of Roussillon.
Made from a wide variety of soils (gneiss, schist, granite, limestone), the wines of the Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages appellation must be made from a blend of at least three of the region's traditional grape varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault.
Four communes have a specific appellation: Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages "Caramany," Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages "Lesquerde," Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages "Tautavel" and Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages "Latour de France".
Cultivated on terraces on an arid soil, the red wines of this AOP are recognised for their power, their aromatic richness as well as their potential for ageing to develop their character and aromatic complexity.
