Banyuls & Banyuls Grand Cru
Appellation d’Origine Protégée
The AOP Banyuls vineyard is 2500 acres large and covers 4 villages : Collioure, Port-Vendres, Banyuls et Cerbère, situated in the Eastern Pyrenees at the extreme East of the Pyrenees chain. This appellation covers 1,150 hectares and produces around 25,700 hectoliters of wine per year.
The varieties of Grenache grown in this region are: Noir (Red), Blanc (White) and Gris (Grey).
The vines are established on steep slopes with narrow terraces retained by low walls, facing the sea, where it is sometimes necessary to use mule or cable car to transport the harvest. This appellation is located in a climatic zone of the Mediterranean type, which gives the vineyard exceptional conditions of development and maturation of the grapes.
In the Glass
The mention “Grand Cru” is only reserved for Banyuls red wines. The wine is aged in oak barrels which gives it subtle aromas of cooked fruit, mocha, tobacco, vanilla, roasting. Banyuls Grand Cru can have mentions “Dry”, “Sec” or “Brut” denomination authorised if residual sugars are ≥ 54g/l. The wines must be kept on wood in oxidizing environment for 30 months minimum.
Dinner Inspiration
STARTERS/SIDES:
Sauteed Foie gras with apple.
Melon soup with ham shavings.
Cured cheese toast with apple and dehydrated tomatoes.
MAINS:
Chicken stuffed with bacon, plums and walnuts with chestnut sauce.
Orange chicken.
Thai chicken coconut.
