Meeting with Vanessa Méline

Can you tell us about the history of the Terrasses du Larzac PDO?

The "Terrasses du Larzac" appellation arose from the dynamics of the controlled designation of origin (AOC) which was then called "Côteaux du Languedoc." This appellation was intended to cover the entire region from Perpignan to Nîmes. The winegrowers of Hérault and Aude then came together to consider what would be a shared vision.

The name "Terrasses du Larzac" thus appeared in the late 90s, referring to the geological terraces of the Hérault River and the Lergue (one of its main tributaries) on the foothills of the Larzac plateau. In 2004, the name appeared on bottles as part of the "Côteaux du Languedoc" appellation and, relatively quickly for a recent appellation, became a protected designation of origin (AOC) in 2014.

At the heart of this story is a handful of winemakers who believed in the exceptional value of their terroir, despite an unfavorable economic and political climate that encouraged the abandonment of vineyards. They came together in a shared region, characterized by soils primarily formed by the erosion of the Larzac plateau and the foothills of the Cévennes mountains. Winds, temperature variations, humidity, and warm air masses, which bring significant rainfall to the Larzac, exert a decisive impact on the vines and, consequently, on the final quality of the wine.

In 2024, the Terrasses du Larzac PDO celebrates its 10th anniversary; how has the appellation evolved over the years?

Given its recent establishment, the appellation is resolutely focused on dynamism and evolution. To give you an idea, in 2014, production was 12,000 hectoliters. By 2023, it had doubled to approximately 24,000 hectoliters. While these volumes are relatively small compared to the total wine production in the entire Languedoc region, this growth is significant on our scale.

Currently, the appellation boasts around one hundred winegrowers, and one of its main strengths truly lies in the collective and intellectual energy that thrives within it. Indeed, it includes both long-established winegrowers and a large number of winemakers from other regions, such as South America, Germany, and Italy. This group of winegrowers is genuinely driven by a shared ambition for quality wines and the promotion of the terroir—values ​​that resonate with everyone.

A key point of the appellation is also the creation of a wine walk called the Circulade vigneronne en Terrasses du Larzac, the twentieth edition of which took place in 2023. Initially it was of course very artisanal but already there was this desire to promote the wines in their landscape setting and to show the diversity of the terroirs and landscapes because we are lucky enough to be framed by 3 Grands Sites de France.

What are the distinctive characteristics of the wines produced in the appellation and how do they differ from other wine appellations in Languedoc?

The appellation covers 32 communes, with delimitation at the parcel level. One of the appellation's defining characteristics is the mandatory blending of at least three grape varieties. This reflects a desire to highlight the terroir through blending, which is the common DNA of Languedoc wines.

Our vineyards are nestled around the foothills of the Larzac plateau, and the rainfall and the significant day/night cycles result in wines that are fresh and elegant. Three-quarters of the appellation's winemakers practice organic farming, which has a positive impact on the grapes and the wines because the soils are more vibrant.

Regarding the main grape varieties, we cultivate Carignan, which is quite rare for an appellation. In the 80s and 90s, this grape variety, like Cinsault, suffered from a bad reputation.

How can we meet the winemakers of the appellation and what are the unmissable events to discover or rediscover the wines of the Terrasses du Larzac?

Every year, during the first weekend of July, we organize the Circulade en Terrasses du Larzac, a gastronomic tour with several stops. At each stop, winemakers offer tastings of their wines. Between 50 and 60 winemakers are present behind the barrels for this event; it's the major and unmissable event of the appellation. Then, between March and April, the winemakers visit Montpellier's wine shops and restaurants to introduce their wines to the locals.

Finally, two years ago we set up an application called "Itinérances en Terrasses du Larzac", where all the winegrowers are geolocated, allowing you to quickly see those around you.

This application also includes audio wine routes: a mix of podcasts about landscapes, geology, biodiversity, interviews with winemakers…

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