Roussillon
Definition - What does Roussillon mean?
Roussillon is the wine region typically associated with the larger region of Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern France. The region borders with Spain, therefore, the culture around the region is mainly Catalan. The varied landscape permits a wide variety of wine growing, making it possible to grow 23 different grape varieties. The majority of wines produced in this region are red and white, fortified sweet wines.
WineFrog explains Roussillon
The wine region of Roussillon is often associated with the larger region of Languedoc-Roussillon of southeastern France. However, Roussillon is also a region in itself. The climate is Mediterranean and its undulating terroir allows for a variety of wine grapes to be cultivated here including; Muscat, Grenache and Syrah.
The region may officially be in France, however, its border with Spain has a large influence on its culture. Many of the people here consider themselves Catalan.
The region is officially certified as an AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée) with some other wines ranking under the IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) status. The majority of these wines are sweet fortified wines. Here are some examples of Roussillon wines:
- AOP Banyuls
- AOP Banyuls Grand Cru
- AOP Muscat de Rivesaltes
- IGP Côtes Catalanes
- IGP Côte Vermeille
