Wine In Languedoc (buying A Vineyard In South West France)

There are many reasons why people, especially the English, look for property for sale in south west France. One of these various reasons is for them to try their hand at starting their own winery business. If you are one of those people who would like to establish themselves as a vigneron, one of the best places to do this is the region of Languedoc.

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is located in the south of France and is known as the largest wine region in the whole world. There are more than 700,000 acres of land devoted to growing grapes, and the area is responsible for a third of the total wine production of the whole of France. In a wider context, the regions total output is significantly more than the total wine production of the entire United States.

If you are looking for a property for sale in South West France with a view to establish a vineyard, then you would be well advised to focus your search southward to Languedoc.

The Oldest Vineyards in France

The Languedoc-Roussillon region actually has the oldest vineyards in France. According to the history of the province, the first vineyards were planted by the Greeks, who came to live in the area during the fifth century, B.C. Wines coming from Languedoc became prized in the centuries to come, and in the 14th century, wines from Languedoc-Roussillon were praised for their healing and restorative properties.

Wide varieties of grapes are grown for distilling wines in the Languedoc-Roussillon province. They range from the traditional and obscure grape varieties such as Aubun and Carignan, to the more internationally recognised varieties like Merlot, Grenache, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier.

The reason why grapes for wines grow successfully in Languedoc-Roussillon is due primarily the Mediterranean climate of the region. The climate is extremely conducive for producing grapes en masse. The rich quality of soils in the region, varying from limestone to alluvial, also contributes to its suitablity.

The Industrial Age saw a decline in the quality of Languedoc wines. The vignerons of Languedoc began to focus on mass-producing their wine, coming up with a cheap variety of red wine that became known as le gros rouge. However, recent shifts in policies in the European Union as well as in Frances own Appellation dOrigine Cntrolle (AOC) have forced Languedoc vignerons to focus once more on quality rather than quantity.

Buying Property in South West France for Wine Making

If you are looking into buying a property for sale in south west France in order to start your own vineyard, you would not go far wrong in going south and making your purchase at Languedoc for this is, without a doubt, the best wine country in the world.

But there is more to running a vineyard beyond buying property. South west France may be extremely conducive for wine production, but being in the wine production business demands a great deal of hard work. You should have a clear idea of what you are getting into before you begin your search for property for sale in South West France.