Saint-Chinian

The Saint-Chinian appellation is a sub-regional appellation within the Languedoc wine region. Since February 4, 2005, two municipal appellations have been recognized: Saint-Chinian Berlou and Saint-Chinian Roquebrun, distinguished for their excellence and distinctive character. Saint-Chinian wine, one of the region’s finest, has held AOC status since 1982 for its red and rosé wines and since 2004 for its white wines.  

Located on either side of the Orb and Vernazobre rivers, the Saint-Chinian vineyard spans some twenty communes northwest of Béziers: Assignan, Babeau-Bouldoux, Berlou, Causses-et-Veyran, Cazedarnes, Cébazan, Cessenon-sur-Orb,   Creissan, Cruzy, Ferrières-Poussarou, Murviel-lès-Béziers, Pierrerue, Prades-sur-Vernazobre, Puisserguier, Quarante, Roquebrun, Saint-Chinian, Saint-Nazaire-de-Ladarez, Vieussan, and Villespassans. An extraordinary geological and climatic diversity gives Saint-Chinian a distinctive character that lends each wine its own unique character. In the north, the vines are planted primarily on schist soils, and in the south, on clay-limestone soils, at an altitude ranging from 100 to 400 meters.

Saint-Chinian wines are made from the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, and Lledoner Pelut grape varieties for reds and rosés, and from Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Vermentino (or Rolle) for whites. Saint-Chinian is best appreciated by tasting the wines offered by Mas Champart, Clos Bagatelle, or Domaine La Madura.