Faugères

Faugères, reliable appellation in the languedoc region in southern France. A total of 1,890 ha/4,668 acres of vineyard, mainly at relatively high elevations (often well above 250 m/820 ft) on schistous foothills of the Cévennes, look down on the plains around Béziers. The Faugères appellation vineyards are planted with quintessentially Mediterranean grape varieties to produce big, southern reds that taste like a cross between the spice of the southern rhône and wild, rustic corbières to the south west. The ubiquitous Carignan, which by 2014 was limited to 40% of any blend) is being replaced by Syrah, Grenache, or its relative Lladoner Pelut, and Mourvèdre, and Cinsaut is still grown for fruit and rosés. Roussanne is encouraged in white Faugères, which since 2004 has had its own appellation based on at least 30% of this variety with Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Vermentino. This is one of the Languedoc’s distinctive and consistent appellations.