Languedoc

Unlike it's well-trodden neighbour Provence, Languedoc Roussillon was a latecomer to the twentieth century and still remains one of the wildest parts of France. None the less with its long history of civilization Languedoc has always contained many of the elements essential to good living. Indeed in 1661 Racine remarked that twenty caterers could make a living there, but a bookseller would starve to death. And there is still one crop more important to Languedoc than any other: the grape. Once the wine lake of Europe, times are changing however, and more and more ambitious growers are taking advantage of Appellation Controlee status, reinvesting in modern wine making equipment and planting internationally popular grapes varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. The wines have improved significantly as a result and continue to evolve at a heady pace. We think our selection of wines reflects this leap in quality. So taste for yourself and discover why Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the most exciting wine regions in the world.

South West

The Southwest is, in some ways, a neglected part of France, but it has not always been so. The Romans stopped here, establishing thermal stations in the foothills of the Pyrenees and there has always been a brisk traffic of pilgrims either on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain or to the shrine at Lourdes. Remote from Paris, local lords enjoyed an enviable independence, maintaining armies and sizeable courts. Their influence on the region remains for the territorial and cultural divisions established by these courts still stand. The wines, too, stand apart, many made as they are from local grape varieties: Duras, Tannat, Fer Servadou, Len de l'Elh; all grown nowhere else other than the Southwest. Once tough as old boots, modern wine making techniques and competition from Chile and Argentina in particular, have spurred a new generation of wine makers into producing softer, more subtle wines better suited to the international palate than the tannic reds and rustic whites of 20 years ago. This is why we are convinced that the wines from the Southwest are worth re-visiting and that the opportunity to taste progress in action should not be passed up.

Provence

More than any other part of France, Provence looks south. South to the Mediterranean, southeast to Italy and away from the Alps at her back. Add the cleansing effect of the Mistral and Provence is unrivalled as the market garden of France. Ideal conditions, one would think, in which to make great wines. Yet Provence is as much a state of mind as an identifiable region and the same can be said of many of its wines, designed to complement the beauty of the region rather than to rival it. The wines of Provence, in other words, haven't had to try very hard to sell themselves to an adoring public. However, there are a select few, represented here, who have always appreciated their good fortune and who have succeeded in fulfilling the potential of the land. They want you to know that Provence isn't just about light, fruity roses; it's also about spicy Mourvedres from Bandol, melon-scented Clairettes from the Coteaux d'Aix en Provence or floral Grenache Blancs from the Luberon. Try them and taste the difference!