Collioure AOC
Are you familiar with the Banyuls appellation? Chances are you may have! You might be interested to know that the Collioure appellation extends over the same geographical area. Here winemakers craft only dry wines: reds, which account for 60% of production; rosés (26%); and whites. No sweet Vin Doux Naturel here, just expressive dry styles shaped by this sun‑soaked Mediterranean terroir. Established for reds in 1971, the appellation welcomed rosés in 1991 and whites in 2003. Today, it stretches over more than 630 hectares of sun‑drenched terraces, many with sweeping views over the Mediterranean. To qualify for the appellation, red and rosé wines must be blends of at least two grape varieties from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan Noir – with Grenache Gris permitted in rosé. White wines must combine at least two grape varieties to qualify, from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Roussanne, Marsanne, Vermentino, Macabeu, and Malvoisie du Roussillon (also known as Tourbat). Vine density is set at a minimum of 4,000 plants per hectare. In practice, the spacing is often generous, allowing deep roots to seek nourishment in these meagre schist soils, under a hot, dry climate.
For a taste of Collioure at its finest, experience the wines of Bruno Duchêne, Coume del Mas, or La Rectorie, each a distinctive expression of this sun‑kissed Mediterranean terroir!
