Terrasses du Larzac Winegrowers Celebrate Decade of Existence 

The Terrasses du Larzac winemakers of this Languedoc appellation will celebrate their 10th anniversary with a hattrick of events this year.

To celebrate the milestone, a number of festivities will be held in various locations in France. Tous en terrasses… du Larzac will open the ball in Montpellier (March 21-23, 2024); La Circulade en Terrasses du Larzac (July 5-6, 2024) will follow suit and the celebrations will end with a big birthday party in Paris in October.

“These two well-known events, the ‘Circulade’ and ‘Tous en Terrasses… du Larzac à Montpellier’ are an opportunity to meet the winemakers of our appellation. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to taste 50 to 60 wines at the Circulade, for example, and get a chance to taste the wine before visiting a particular estate,” said Sébastien Fillon, president of Terrasses du Larzac, and owner of Domaine Le Clos du Serres. 

 

The history of the Terrasses du Larzac appellation dates back to before 2014, when it was recognised as an AOC/AOP (Controlled Designation of Origin/Protected Designation of Origin). Originally, the vine arrived in the south of France with the Romans, via Narbonne, and then spread throughout Languedoc, continuing across the foothills of the Larzac plateau.

Situated to the west of Montpellier, in the south of France, the appellation stretches in a V shape across the northern part of the Hérault département. 

Production reached its heyday in the 17th century with the opening of the Canal du Midi, but the wine industry in the Languedoc region suffered severe blows at the end of the 19th century due to the Phylloxera and Mildew epidemics, and an economic depression at the beginning of the 20th century.  

Find out more about the Terrasses du Larzac in our immersive, animated story: Terrasses du Larzac: Organic Wine-Making in the Heart of the Languedoc

The Languedoc region then had to reconstruct its wine industry, producing “vin de table“. At the beginning of the 21st century, certain winegrowers, both local and from the surrounding Languedoc “terroirs”, distanced themselves from this approach, daring to be more ambitious. Through hard work, then becoming more collective over time, these artisan winegrowers reconnected with the Languedoc history through a more rustic and holistic vision of their profession.

Currently, the Terrasses du Larzac appellation is reliving this experience of positive collective action. Veteran, local winegrowers from established family-owned wineries are working in tandem with newcomers from surrounding areas, to make Languedoc wines the best they can be. 

A chance to meet the winemakers

Tous en terrasses… du Larzac is a major wine event, which gives Montpellier residents and visitors the chance to meet AOC Terrasses du Larzac winegrowers and taste their wines in Montpellier’s bars, restaurants and wine shops throughout the day.

Some of the venues taking part are; Mon Caviste a un grain, O’Sullivans Pub Montpellier, V. Marchand de Vins, Clos des Oliviers, La Cave de Villeneuve, Trinque Fougasse, La Table Des Poètes, Mi Barrio, Esprit vin from winemakers: Mas Lasta, Domaine Le Clos Rouge, Domaine d’Archimbaud, Château de Jonquières – Hérault, Les 8 Sarments, Domaine Nova Solis, Mas Origine, Mas de Clanny, Le Mas de l’Ecriture, Mas Laval, La Petite Parcelle, Domaine de L’Argenteille, Mas de l’Erme, Mas de la Seranne, Les vignes oubliées, Domaine de l’Accent. 

 

La Circulade en Terrasses du Larzac welcomes more than 2,000 people in search of a holistic experience to discover the local landscapes, wines and winegrowers. Each edition takes place in a different municipality, in the heart of the countryside. This gastronomic and festive circuit starts late afternoon and finishes late at night with a party.

The real birthday party, to be celebrated in Paris on October 21 2024, will be a Soulenque (Occitan term for a celebratory meal at the end of the grape harvest). Here, 40 or so winegrowers will offer their wines for tasting, followed by a cocktail reception and private concert by a regional artist.

For more information visit: www.terrasses-du-larzac.com

Don’t miss other upcoming wine events in the region including; 

GASTRONOMIC WALK AT THE GRÉS DE MONTPELLIER

(Sunday May 12, 2024).

This walking route in the heart of Montpellier allows you to discover unusual and secret places of the city’s heritage while tasting AOC Languedoc and AOC Languedoc-Grés de Montpellier wines at each stage accompanied by gourmet dishes. 

For more information visit: www.montpellier.vin  

GOURMET TRAILS IN CLAPE VIGNERONNE

(May 19, 2024)

Friendly, festive and warm, this wine tour of a few kilometers takes place in the heart of the Clape massif near Narbonne. It alternates between gastronomic stops and tastings of the appellation’s wines in a preserved natural setting overlooking the Mediterranean. 

Info: www.la-clape.com   

GOURMET GETAWAY TO SOMMIÈRES

(May 25, 2024) 

Walk in five gourmet stages between scrubland, vineyards and olive groves to meet the winegrowers of the Sommières region in the Gard. The perfect opportunity to taste the wines of the AOC Languedoc-Sommières, the most eastern of the AOC Languedoc. 

Info: www.languedoc-sommieres-aoc.com  

VIGNES BUISSONNIÈRES IN PIC SAINT LOUP

(June 8-9, 2024) 

Since 2001, the winegrowers of the AOC Pic Saint-Loup have organized, on the 2nd weekend of June, the Vignes Buissonnières in Pic Saint Loup, a gastronomic stroll in the vineyards about 20km from Montpellier. 

Info: www.pic-saint-loup.com