Fitou AOC
The vineyards of Fitou in the wine region of Languedoc in southern France. Fitou is an enclave within the range Corbières. The appellation has since 28 April 1948 concerning the status of an Appellation d' Origine ( AOC short ) and covers approximately 2,600 hectares of vineyards. In order for the AOC Fitou is the oldest AOC in the Languedoc. The vineyards are situated on the Mediterranean coast and bordered to the south by the Appellation Côtes du Roussillon -Villages, which already belongs to the wine-growing region of Roussillon.
The winery also have the right to press the grapes, the wines of Rivesaltes appellations and Muscat de Rivesaltes. Red Wine Every year approximately 600 growers produced about 100,000 hectoliters. The majority of these wineries is connected one of the five wine producers who sell almost 85 % of the total market. The remaining 15% are produced and sold by 31 private wineries. Under the appellation of Fitou wines are exclusively produced, the need to spend at least 9 months in large oak barrels or in small oak barrels.
After the appellation in the 1980s knew a great success, suffered sales since the beginning of the 1990s under at high prices and declining quality. A return to the concept of quality at the same time strict harvest restriction bestow the appellation for almost 10 years back a secure livelihood.
The appellation is divided geographically, it consists of the ten kilometers apart two zones:
- Fitou Maritime with communities Caves, Fitou, La Palme, Leucate and Treilles. This zone lies between the A9 and the coastline of the Mediterranean. The soil clayey - chalky and is heavily interspersed with pebbles.
- Fitou de Hautes -Corbières with communities Cascastel -des- Corbieres, Durban -Corbières, Tuchan and Villeneuve- les -Corbières is located about 10 km inland. There prevails a slate floor.
La fête d' été vigneronne
To promote a sense of community of the people in the growing area and the wine sales to tourists since 1993 is the beginning of August a summer festival of winemakers instead ( " la fête vigneronne d'été "). It is aligned in the alternation of each one of the municipalities of the area of Fitou and is connected to an open day all winemakers. For hard to organize separate music events for young people and older in addition to a producer market for local foods and a small carnival with rides in the evening. The brotherhoods of the participating locations and neighboring vineyards also organize a small move in magnificent costumes and then honor in a ceremony deserved winemakers.
The fraternities ... the wine villages follow.
Earned winemakers are awarded ...
And then ...: a photo for the local press.
Varieties
Generally speaking, in the wine region of Fitou a revenue cap of 45 hectoliters / hectare. However, the 10-year average is 40 hectoliters / hectare.
Main grape varieties are Carignan (share at least 30 %), Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. In addition, Cinsault and Lledoner Pelut are admitted to a lesser extent.
The combined share of Carignan, Grenache and Lledoner Pelut is at least 70 %. The current share of Cinsault is at least 10 %. However, from the 2008 harvest, he is no longer allowed.
Since 2001, no new planting of Lledoner Pelut be admitted, so that its share will decline in the blends in the next few years a natural way.
The minimum alcohol content of red wine is 12.0 % by volume.