Collioure
Appellation d’Origine Protégée
Culture becomes painted art in Collioure and the AOP orchestrates its palette of reds, rosés and whites to perfection. This is art mastered –renowned far beyond the banks of the Côte Vermeille…
Planted between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrénées mountains, this small vineyard of about 1000 acres, gathers the villages of Collioure, Port-Vendres, Banyuls-sur-Mer and Cerbère.
This appellation produces around 19,000 hectoliters of wine a year, declined in reds and rosés (2/3 of red). Since 2002, the Collioure AOC white is also recognized.
The varieties of Garnacha grown in this region are: Noir (Red), Blanc (White) and Gris (Grey).
AOP Collioure wines can be White, Rosé or Red, made with at least 2 grape varieties. The vines grow on a balcony of grey schist from the primary (Cambrian) era that overlooks the Mediterranean. Ravines and hills alternate with each other, and the vines are established on very narrow terraces. The combination of these unique soils, intense sunlight and the sea makes for a very special micro-climate for this Appellation.
In the Glass
The Collioure red wines have a range from ample, fresh and fruity wines with aromas of spice and ripe fruit, to which the red Grenache brings power and warmth. The rosé Collioure are fresh and strong wines with notes of red fruits and minerals. The white Collioure are rich wines intense, still little used, must be composed of 70% Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris. Grenache gris structures these wines with aromas of dried fruit, while Grenache blanc suggests finer and aniseed notes, which explains the richness and intensity of this recent area.
Dinner Inspiration
STARTERS/SIDES:
Carpaccio of tuna and pink grapefruit with sweet spices.
Lamb tajine with zucchini.
Creamy rice with fennel and lemon.
MAINS:
Beef Ragoût with spices.
Chicken au chocolat.
Cod au piment.
