Coteaux de Béziers Aramon

Private: Domaine Emile & Rose

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Type

Red Wine

Appellation

Coteaux de Beziers

Variety

Aramon

Aramon was once the most widely planted grape in France because of its resistance to mildew and ability to produce large quantities of light bodied, low alcohol red wine. Because of this history, it's often maligned and was mostly ripped out in the 1960s. A few older vines remain, and Emile & Rose produces an excellent red aged in amphora and lovely rosé that show the delicious potential of this long-overlooked variety.

Viticulture

Vineyard name

Vineyards in Corneilhan and Pailhes

Soil type

Vineyards in Corneilhan and Pailhes

Vinification

Native yeast fermentation in stainless steel

Elevage4 months in amphora

More about
the producer

Private: Domaine Emile & Rose

Founded in 2004

27 hectares

In the 1930s and 1940s, the Coteaux de Béziers held the dubious title of the world capital of wine, because the appellation claimed single handedly to produce the largest volume of any region in the world. Whether or not this claim is verifiable, what is certain is that they used the high yielding local grape called Aramon to produce large quantities of low alcohol wine to give “courage” to French workers and soldiers who were legally entitled to a liter of wine per day.

In the 1950s, much of the Aramon was ripped out and replanted to Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, and other more “noble” grapes. Marc and Anne-Laure Royo were particularly attracted to the Domaine d’Emile & Rose because they had maintained old vines of Aramon. What’s more, the granddaughter of Emile and Rose, had...