Roussillon

The Roussillon vineyards date back to the days of the Ancient Greeks. Roussillon forms a large basin bound to the north, west and south by mountains with the Mediterranean Sea completing the square. The climate here is truly hot and Roussillon is consistently the driest region of France. As in the Corbieres the winds play an import role in the climate. The region thus produces grapes that are rich in sugar and deep in colour, as the soil is largely acidic and hard rock. It explains why a lot of the local producers concentrate on production of vins doux naturels instead of producing reds and whites, which are more susceptible to the climate. Around 30% of Roussillon's production is vins doux naturel and is marketed as Rivesaltes.
Of the remaining Rousillon production only approx 25% is of unfortified wines and covered by AOC labeling, with the rest being Vin de Pays.
Roussillon wines come in all three colours and as expected, the reds are strong and full bodied whereas the whites are surprisingly light, fruity, fresh and flowery, the latter being a characteristic of the Maccabeu grape. Rose's on the other hand can be dangerously full bodied and misleadingly moreish.