Stretching across the lower half of France, this area encompasses all that is great about French wine. Diverse climatic variations have helped direct and focus each area to adopt indigenous, native varieties and work them to their advantage. This is an exciting hunting ground if you want to explore the highways and byways of southern France.

The reds are often based on the varieties of the Rhône, while in the east of the country Grenache is king. Further west the Atlantic varieties of Bordeaux have more significance, as with Malbec from Cahors. In whites this translates to exciting blends of Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Muscat, as well as the more international Chardonnays and Sauvignons.

One perceives the region to be hot, yet areas such as Limoux produce great purity and elegance in their wines, perfect for drinking as an apéritif all year round.

This wine is created from a blend of white grape varieties, the most predominant of which is Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is a beautifully versatile white grape variety that does well both in warm and cool climates, with or without oak ageing. Similarly, it produces an array of flavours: citrus, apple, peach and more tropical fruit such as pineapple and melon. The winemaker may also use oak and other techniques to produce buttery and toasty flavours. Chardonnay tends to have a quite soft texture and round mouth feel.