Southern France

These are wines produced in Southern France, which covers hundreds of thousands of vineyard acres across the regions of the Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence and the Southern Rhône Valley.

Southern France has a broad range of topography, from the rocky mountains of the Pyrenees to the breezy coastal areas along the Mediterranean coast. The climate in the South of France is characterized by dry summers and mild winters, which contributes to the production of ripe grapes with wonderfully diverse flavors.

Red wines from the South of France are known to be full-bodied and rich in texture, whereas rosé and white wines from Southern France are usually dry and refreshing, with subtle hints of minerality. All wines grown in the South of France are highly celebrated for their ability to complement and enhance some of the region’s most exquisite cuisines.

Wine has been grown in the South of France for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient Greeks, who planted their vineyards in the 6th century B.C. The Romans later expanded these plantings. By the Middle Ages, religious monasteries established a flourishing wine trade, as the monks learned the science of viticulture and cultivated grape-growing methods that are still practiced today. By the early 20th century, the South of France had gained a reputation for creating outstanding wines that burst with flavor.

Red Wines

Grenache is a red grape variety widely planted in the Southern Rhône and creates wines with high alcohol content, low tannins and juicy flavors. Syrah is also a popular grape and a key ingredient in many silky red wines. Other popular grapes are Mourvèdre and Carignan, celebrated for creating delicious wines, firm in tannins and with aromas of dark berries and wild herbs. A combination of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre is used to create Côtes-du-Rhône—a famous red wine produced in Southern France, known for its robust structure and full-bodied character, alongside flavors of dark fruit, spice and leather.

Rosé Wines

Provence is known for producing some of the world’s best rosé wines, acclaimed for their crisp and refreshing taste. Provençal Rosé wines are celebrated for their beautiful pale hues and luscious flavors bursting with strawberry, raspberry and cherry notes. Grenache and Syrah grapes are the two most common grapes used in Southern French rosé wine. Cinsault, a grape typically planted in the Languedoc and Provence regions, is also used to create rosé wines with crisp, pure fruit flavors.

Discover our refreshing range of Provence rosé wines.

White Wines

Viognier is a popular white grape variety that produces delicious wines with floral and fruity notes. Viognier is commonly grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Chardonnay is also a well-known white grape grown in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Its citrus, green apple and mineral notes produce many crisp and refreshing white wines. If you visit the Rhône Valley, you’ll likely spot acres of Roussanne, a grape famous for producing complex wines that contain accents of honey, apricot and spice. It’s used alongside Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and other white grapes to make blends like Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc.

• Languedoc-Roussillon: Considered the largest grape-growing area in France, with many family-owned vineyards scattered across jagged hills, the Languedoc-Roussillon region grows a range of grape varieties that produce myriad styles of wine, from rich and full-bodied reds to light and refreshing whites.
• Provence: Provence is renowned for producing light and refreshing dry rosé wines that exude vibrant red berry flavors. Provençal rosé wine is made through a technique called direct pressing. This method is responsible for the rosé’s delicate pale hues. Provence’s sunny Mediterranean climate has seen a long history of producing rosé wines, so much so that it symbolizes the region’s laid-back culture.
• Southern Rhône Valley: The most famous wine region in the South of France, particularly for producing rich and full-bodied red wines, the Southern Rhône has an abundance of well-draining alluvial soil, making it ideal for growing grapes like Grenache, Mourvèdre. and Syrah. The region is revered for creating high-quality red blends, like Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Roussillon: Located in the southernmost area of France, bordering Spain, Roussillon has a warm and dry climate ideal for grape growing. Roussillon predominantly produces sweet fortified wines, like Banyuls and Maury.