Yet even here in the South of France there can be startling differences between the intensity and impact of the sun from one plot of land to another. One winemaker reports that 20 km difference in location of two vineyards means a difference of 3 weeks in grape maturity!

All plants need water to live and grow. The ideal situation is a regular water supply with moderate drought, which also promotes early ripening. Generally speaking, the rainfall in the Languedoc is ideal for grapes, with good downfalls in spring and autumn and long dry summers, although here again, from Narbonne in the West to Nimes in the East, the average annual rainfall ranges from 150 mm to 750 mm.

Wind also plays a key role in defining a particular terroir given its impact on temperature, rain and humidity. There are a number of continental winds which blow across the Languedoc region, whilst the Mediterranean blows in sea breezes to the coastal areas.

Across the Coteaux du Languedoc, there are a staggering range of different microclimates that contribute to the specifics of the individual terroirs.

Narbonne benefits from a truly Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and low rainfall yet the cooling sea breezes make this area (La Clape) a good source of refreshing whites and roses as well as fruity reds. Moving further East, Montpellier has a more temperate climate, and St-Georges d'Orques, which is part of the larger Grès de Montpellier region, produces elegant red wines with more verve and acidity.

Areas of higher altitude, such as the Terrasses du Larzac including the St-Saturnin and Montpeyroux regions and Pic St-Loup can be rather cold at night, which tends to make the red wines less heavy and sprightlier, whilst the Limoux area is subject to the influence of the Atlantic climate and produces a range of delicate white wines which would not be possible down on the Mediterranean coast.

The impact of soil

In addition to the climate and positioning, the soil plays a key role in determining the type of wine produced by each region. As with the climate, the Coteaux du Languedoc area displays a variety of soil types that contribute to the diversity of the assembled terroirs.