May 17, 2024

AOP LA LIVINIÈRE AND AOP BOUTENAC FINALLY THE ACHIEVEMENT!

AOP LA LIVINIÈRE ET AOP BOUTENAC ENFIN L’ABOUTISSEMENT !

A HISTORIC TURNING POINT FOR TWO JEWELS OF LANGUEDOC

FOLLOWING APPROVAL BY THE FRENCH STATE, THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS JUST REGISTERED, BY DECREE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (JOUE), THE NAMES, AOP LA LIVINIÈRE (JOUE OF 03/26/2024) AND AOP BOUTENAC (JOUE OF 03/14/2024).

This recognition follows an adventure initiated nearly 40 years ago by visionaries such as Maurice Piccinini and Roger Piquet for La Livinière, and Gérard Bertrand with Yves Laboucarié for Boutenac. In their wake, these pioneers brought about a collective desire to assert themselves in the high-end segment and to promote the uniqueness of terroirs within their base AOPs, Minervois and Corbières. This first phase led to the official recognition by the INAO of the AOC Minervois-La Livinière in 1999 and then of the AOC Corbières-Boutenac in 2005 (designations linked to their base appellations). Today, both have acquired their own reputation which allows them to obtain this recognition as AOP La Livinière and AOP Boutenac. They are thus part of the restricted circle of communal appellations of Languedoc.

Guy Sabarthès, President of the AOP La Livinière: " This recognition is indeed for us, winegrowers, the opportunity to formalize our status as a communal appellation, the highest level in the hierarchy of appellations, defined by the INAO ". For David Latham, President of the AOP Boutenac: " This recognition strengthens the personality of our Cru, which is now more readable. It is a concrete affirmation of our identity. "

TWO NAMES BUT… A COMMON DNA

Although they come to life in distinct terroirs - one anchored in the foothills of the Montagne Noire in Minervois, and the other nestled around the Pinada massif, in the heart of the Corbières - the La Livinière and Boutenac appellations nevertheless share a common DNA: an exclusive production of elegant, powerful and expressive red wines, with Mediterranean grape varieties (essentially around Syrah for La Livinière and Carignan for Boutenac), an obligation to bottle in the appellation area; a minimum aging period; an average sale price at the cellar between €15 and €20.

COMMON VALUES

It is therefore not surprising that they also share common values: the demand for know-how, the attachment to their terroir and their personality. Values that have also led them to join the prestigious Cercle des Terroirs du Languedoc, a group of appellations that orchestrates collective initiatives to showcase the terroirs and communal appellations, and to promote the image of the AOPs of Languedoc.

AND A COMMON AMBITION

Thanks to the recognition of their appellations, the winegrowers of La Livinière and Boutenac are now equipped to differentiate themselves and structure their offering, reflecting a shared ambition to develop the attractiveness of the territories while preserving the image of the vineyards. An approach which, according to Etienne Besancenot of Château de Caraguilhes (AOP Boutenac) " reflects the motivation of the winegrowers who aspire to build a richer and more structured vineyard, imbued with winegrowing culture ". For Delphine Glangetas of Domaine de l'Ostal (AOP La Livinière): " winegrowers who also aspire to preserve their living environment to pass on a healthy and living heritage to future generations ".

KEY FIGURES

The Livinière (Hérault/Aude)