Collioure

The small Collioure vineyard lies between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees mountain range in the south of the Pyrénées-Orientales department, in the communes of Collioure, Port Vendres, Banyuls and Cerbère. The appellation area merges with that of Banyuls and Banyuls Grand Cru, in the communes of Collioure, Port-Vendres, Banyuls and Cerbère. Only around 640 hectares of the appellation's 1,700 are devoted to the production of AOC Collioure, for an annual output of around 19,000 hectolitres, which since 2003 has been available in three colors: white, rosé and red (with red accounting for 70% of production).

Set in a vast amphitheatre facing the sea, the vineyards of Collioure wines are made up of small terraces held back by almost 6,000 kilometers of dry stone walls, fashioned over centuries by generations of winegrowers. The hillsides, with slopes of up to 40%, rest on the bedrock of Cambrian brown shale. This terroir is perfectly reflected in the wines produced by Domaine Coume del Mas, Domaine de la Rectorie, Cave de l'Abbé Rous and Domaine du Mas Blanc.

In the white Collioure wines, grapes from old Grenache gris vines, along with Grenache blanc, give these terroir wines their full potential. This new grand du sud is perfectly suited to the richness of Mediterranean produce. The early bottling of rosés preserves their freshness and aromatic intensity. These are rosés of character, structured, powerful and full-bodied. Red wines, made from Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Noir, can only be marketed from July 1 following the harvest, but the vast majority of winemakers age their wines for a year or more. Collioure wines are fleshy, warm, concentrated and tannic, and will improve in bottle for many years.