There are vast numbers of vineyards in the South West of France and France as a whole. 32,400 acres of the South West are planted to vines producing 220 million bottles - that's plenty for your cellars back home! (Roujol accounts for 500 bottles - via the cooperative!)
Over the years the Bordeaux region has excelled in reputation to be a household name for particularly red wines, however there are other regions around the South West which either pre-date Bordeaux or are considered, often grudgingly to be at least as good. Wine selection has to be personal trial & error there is no other fun way to do it, but for those in a hurry or looking for a short list, below are some local celebrities;
- Buzet - Some of the reds compete head-on with the Bordeaux collections.
- Cahors - produces the famous "black wine" made from the Malbec grape, but other paler varieties are now just as popular and good.
- Gaillac - Producers of red and sweet white wines.
- Jurancon - Best known for their fine dry white and sweet white wines.
- Monbazillac - Producers of excellent desert wines, such as;
www.chateau-le-fage.com
- Vine de Pays - Country wines which now account for over a quarter of all French wine. There are many an unsung hero amongst this collection of producers and within striking distance of Roujol there are many excellent choices; Produced by the vineyard at Domaine de Montels near Montauban, an excellent Rose which is in a class of its own is affordable and locally available.
www.domaine-de-montels.com