Saint-Chinian

The Saint-Chinian appellation is a subregional 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 both sides 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 diversity of geology and climate gives Saint-Chinian its distinctive character, which lends each wine its own unique personality. To the north, the vineyards are planted primarily on schist soils, and to 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. To truly appreciate Saint-Chinian, try the wines from Mas Champart, Clos Bagatelle, or Domaine La Madura.