The Wines of the South of France: From Banyuls to Bellet Book

A comprehensive guide to all the wines of the Midi -- from Banyuls, next to Spain, to the Italian frontier on the east, as well as the island of Corsica. The south of France has long been known for the beauty of its landscape but not, admittedly, for the quality of its wines. But, as Rosemary George shows in this book, the vineyards of the Midi are among the most exciting in Europe today. As new areas have opened up, new growers have moved in, and modern techniques have been introduced, the wines produced have improved so much that they are now of a completely different class. The Wines of the South of France examines the wines of Mediterranean France, not just Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, but extending from Perpignan to beyond Nice and as far inland as Côtes de la Malepère and Cabardès. The history, viticulture, and vinification techniques of each area are examined chapter by chapter, with particular focus on those where exciting experiments -- including the introduction of grape varieties such as Syrah and Grenache -- are taking place. The tradition of mediocre wines is rapidly becoming a thing of the past as a new generation of growers using new techniques and new varieties of grape are now producing wines capable of holding their own with any in the world.Read More