Design your wine tours with our experts

Explore the Best Wineries in Roussillon

Just getting started on your wine journey, or jumping back in?
Taste through a selection of a great local wines.

The Roussillon wine area covers approximately 21400 hectares and has 14 separate appellations d'origine protegees and two PGI. More than 2500 producers, 29 cooperatives, and 345 individual winemakers call the region home. The long-established wine culture and production are garnering considerable attention in wine communities around the world. The distinct terroirs, excellent quality grapes, and history of this wine region have made it one of the most appealing locations in southern France. Roussillon has adopted an organic and biodynamic approach to viticulture and wine production, ushering in a new tradition. Roussillon wines are excellent values that are expressive, world-class, and of high quality.

Check out the best wine tastings and tours in Roussillon!

Where is the Roussillon wine region?

Roussillon wine region is located in the geographical amphitheater around the city of Perpignan, the capital of Roussillon, in southern France between Spain, the Mediterranean sea, the Pyrenees, and Corbieres mountain. The region is just 40km west of the Mediterranean coastal line. The region is bounded by the larger Languedoc wine region to the northeast. Roussillon is also home to some charming towns like Bayulus, Collioure, and Ceret that inspired famous artists including Picasso, Matisse, and Dali. 

History of the Roussillon wine region

Roussillon wine is an underappreciated Old World wine with a long and rich history. The Greeks planted the first vines in Roussillon in the 7th century. The territory was part of Spain from the 13th to the 17th centuries before becoming part of France in 1659, which explains why it shares culture with Catalonia. With the development of the Canal du Midi and the train routes to the north in the late nineteenth century, Roussillon became the principal location for viticulture. Although the region is known for mass-produced wines, their Vins Deux Naturel, fortified sweet wines, was highly acclaimed. During the twentieth century, the region shifted to high-quality grapes with low yield, and in 1977, two areas, Cotes du Roussillon and Cotes du Roussillon villages earned AOP certification.

The terroir and geography of the Roussillon wine region

Roussillon is well-known for the variety of its wines and terroirs. The region is the hottest and driest region in France with more than 320 days of sunshine and dry northern wind during summer. Grapes are cultivated on slopes up to 650 meters above sea level. The soil in the Roussillon wine region is diverse comprising clay, limestone, schist, gravel, and granite. The soil is mostly limestone near the Corbieres mountain which is rich in iron turning the soil red. The soil near the coastal area is sandy and silty. There are enough water tables to collect rain to nurture the vines during the hot summers. 

Popular grape varieties from the Roussillon wine region

Roussillon wine region is home to twenty-four grape varieties and is most popular for its three-color Grenache grape variety. The region has been the first to cultivate Grenache grapes in the entire France which dominates grape production accounting for more than 40%. Other key grape varieties include Syrah, Grenache Noir, Grenache blanc, Grenache  Gris, Carignan noir, Carignan blanc, Carignan Gris, Mourvèdre, Lladoner Pelut, Macabeu, Malvoisie, Muscat à petits grains, Muscat d’Alexandrie, and Malovoisie.

Around 62% of wine produces in the region is red wines, 24% is rose and 14% is white wines. Although the region has been well known for its fortified sweet wines, the region has started production of dry wines which surpassed the production accounting for 80% of total production. 

Food to pair with Roussillon wine 

Etorki Cheese

Etorki cheese is a traditional cheese from the Basque Country in Spain. It is made of sheep milk and has a strong flavor. Etorki is one of the most representative cheeses of the Basque country, as it has been documented since ancient times. Etorki was mentioned by Pliny in his Naturalis Historia as being one of two cheeses that were exported to Rome at that time; this would have been in the year 79 AD. Pair this cheese with dry style wines from Roussillon wine region. 

Canard à l'orange

Canard à l'orange is a French dish that is made of duck and oranges. The dish was first created in the late 19th century. It is said to have been created by the Duc de Richelieu, who was the governor of the province of Languedoc. The recipe was published in his cookbook, L'art du cuisinier in 1822. The dish became popular in France and abroad during the 19th century because it could be prepared ahead and reheated without losing its quality or flavor.

Tournedos Rossini

The Tournedos Rossini is a dish of beef tenderloin cooked with mushrooms, shallots, tarragon, and other ingredients. A tournedos Rossini is usually served with one or more sauces that are also made from reductions. These sauces can be demi-glace, béarnaise sauce, green peppercorn sauce or any other type of sauce that has been reduced to create a syrupy texture. The dish is made up of a beef tenderloin filet, cooked in a cream sauce, with mushrooms and truffles. It is served with slices of toast or fried potatoes on the side.

Places to visit in the Roussillon wine region

Cathedrale Saint Jean Baptiste (Perpignan Cathedral)

Cathedrale Saint Jean Baptiste is a Roman Catholic church located in the centre of Perpignan and is also a national monument of France. King Sancho of Majorca erected the cathedral in the 14th century. The monument is an excellent example of Catalan Gothic architecture. The cathedral's construction was halted with the fall of the kingdom of Mallorca and was only resumed at the beginning of the 16th century. The monument was rebuilt throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Perpignan Cathedral is noted for its large nave with a short transept and apse and a seven cross-vault.

Castillet

Castillet is an iconic structure in Perpignan that was formerly the city's main gate. The Castillet translates to "little castle," and it is a historic fort and city entrance that has been transformed into a museum. Castillet is actually a grouping of three main components: a large castillet, a little castillet, and a bastion. The Bastion was destroyed in the early twentieth century. The building stems from the Aragonese period. The building began in 1368 and was renovated under King Louis XI to give it its modern aspect. During the 18th century, the structure was used as a prison. The Casa Pairal Museum is founded in this remarkable structure which promotes local history and ethnography. 

Frequently asked questions about Roussillon

Where is the Roussillon wine region located?

The Roussillon wine region is located in southern France, between Spain, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pyrenees, and the Corbieres mountain, in the natural amphitheatre that surrounds Perpignan, the capital of Roussillon. The location is only 40 kilometers west of the Mediterranean shore. To the northeast, the territory is encompassed by the wider Languedoc wine region.

What are the most famous wineries in this region?

Domaine Vents du Sud

What are some of the best Roussillon wines that people should try?

Domaine Lafage Cotes du Roussillon 'Tessellae' Old Vines Rouge, France
Domaine Vents du Sud ‘Grenat’ Rivesaltes, France

What are the different kinds of grapes that grow in the Roussillon appellation?

Roussillon wine area is home to twenty-four grape varieties, the most popular of which are three colors of Grenache. The region was the first in France to plant the Grenache grape, which now accounts for more than 40% of total grape production. Syrah, Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, Grenache gris, Carignan noir, Carignan blanc, Carignan Gris, Mourvèdre, Lladoner Pelut, Macabeu, Malvoisie, Muscat à petits grains, Muscat d'Alexandrie, and Malovoisie are also important grape varieties.

What style of wine are found in Roussillon wine region?

Around 62% of wine produces in the region are red wines, 24% are rose and 14% are white wines. Although the region has been well known for its fortified sweet wines, the region has started production of the dry wines which surpassed the production accounting for 80% of total production.

Map of Wineries in Roussillon

Discover the locations of wineries in Roussillon

Explore the Best
Experiences in Roussillon

Just getting started on your wine journey, or jumping back in?
Taste through a selection of a great local wines.

Wineries in Roussillon