AOC 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
Blanquette: Mauzac (90 % mini), Chenin and Chardonnay. 
Crémant: Chardonnay (40% mini) Chenin (20 % mini), Chardonnay + Chenin (90% maxi). 
Secondary grapes: Mauzac + Pinot Noir (20% maxi), Pinot noir (10% maxi) 
Limoux white (still wine): Mauzac (mini 15 %), Chardonnay, Chenin. 
Limoux red (still wine): Merlot (50% mini), Cot, Syrah grenache (30% mini), Carignan (10% maxi). 
Blanquette, ancestral method: 100 % Mauzac.

VINIFICATION
Blanquette and 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. 
Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale: completely natural fermentation, bottled during the descending moon at the end of March, less than 7° of alcohol. 
Limoux blanc: vinification and ageing in oak barrels. Limoux red: classic long-term vinification.

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 de Limoux 40 000 hl
Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale 4 000 hl 
Limoux red (vin tranquille) 2 800 hl
Crémant de Limoux 30 000 hl
Limoux white (vin tranquille) 5 000 hl

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

Source CIVL