AOC Languedoc-Roussillon, AOC Côtes du Rhône,
AOC Provence, Vins de Pays, Customized wines

ALIGNAN-DU-VENT CEPAGES

The Alignan vineyards are locared in the heart of the Languedoc. Pézenas, Molière's home town, the famous French playwright, isn't very far away (7 kms) and the Mediterranean (Sea) is only 20 kms away. Local archives show that the village of Alignan du Vent was first mentioned back in the early days of the 17th Century. But the history of this place is much older, as for instance the old dungeon's square tower witnessed a Roman troop settlement, who built a Castrum here. The St Martin church (Roman Style - 11-12th Century) is also a tangible example of an active village in the past. The site was built on a hill and included a windmill (destroyed at the end of the 19th Century) on top of the area's highest point. This windmill became the logo for Aligan du Vent Cepages (Varietals).

The soils are a combination of clay-limestone (oder chalk) earth, compacted marl, pebbles and limestone.

The local appellation is called : Vins de Pays des Côtes de Thongue.
Côtes de Thongue is synonymous with quality in the Languedoc.

Winegrowers in Alignan have learnt from the past which grape varieties were best for their Terroir.
The combination of state-of-the-art techniques during vinification (winemaking) and traditional methods gives riginality and character to wines from Alignan.

The wines came from small and average size plots. These pieces of land are surrounded by "Garrigue" (scrubland) full of herbs and plants like rosemary, thyme and laurel. Many of the area's wines often contain (have) these herbal aromas.

In Alignan 170 winegrowers on more than 1000 hectares (2500 acres) produce varietal wines, among the best from the South of France. For white wines, Chardonnay and Sauvignon are leading the way. Syrah, Merlot and Vent des Collines (blend of 70 % Syrah and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon) are the best-sellers in th e red range. All the wines have won quite a lot of awards in national and international competitions for the past few years.

The Cave d'Aligian was founded in 1936. The idea was ro bring together communal funds to afford a well-equipped cellar and he able ro sell the wines under a single management (under one roof).

In the eighties the old local grape varieties were replaced by Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Muscat, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. This heightened the wines profile, plus also because the new varieties adapted very well to the Terroir … Today the vineyard is planted with :

- Red varieties : Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Cinsault, Pinot Noir and Marselan

- White varieties : Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Viognier and Muscat.

The climate is typically Mediterranean with warm temperatures, a lot of sun and very little rain.
The dry winds (Tramontane ) are strong and can blow for a long rime.
This microclimate allows (helps) the grapes to reach full maturity (get tully ripe) and in very healthy condition ar picking rime.

(The renovation of) Overhauling the vinevards have (has) been tollowed by investments amounting to 2.5 million euros in the last 10 years : improving the cellar (winery) equipment, renewing the tanks, bottling line, constructing (building) air-conditioned premises in fitting with oak-aged wines and bottled wines ready to be shipped ...

Today we produce several qualities of wine. The all show typical character of our Terroir and the dedication shown by the people who produced the wines. Quality is and will remain our ultimate goal. This policy is the fruit of 170 winegrowers' hard work and 30 people in the cellar. The dynamic management - the President, the Managing Director, the winemaker and the sales tearm make sure this uncompromising policy is strictly carried out.