Limoux Sparkling Wine Loses Its Sparkle!

I like Limoux tucked away in the foothills of the Pyrenees - inside the walls are narrow roads and lanes opening up onto squares with shops and restaurants. The river Aude meanders past and adds to its attractions. But did you know Limoux boasts of a Limoux Sparkling Wine? No, I didn't either and perhaps its lack of publicity has led to its downfall?

With a history dating back almost 500 years, the sparkling wines of Limoux, France claim to be the oldest of their kind mentioned in official records,. Now the Limoux bubbly of southern France is fighting for its future as competitors from Spain offer more affordable options for quality sparkling wine that threaten the success of Limoux’s best.

In an attempt to stand its ground, the region is now offering more affordable options to compete with the cava, or champagne-like wine of northeastern Spain. Cava uses the three main grapes of the region, parellada, macabeo and xarello when developing its wine.

The sparkling wine of Limoux, also called crémant, offers a similar taste to champagne since both use the chardonnay grape but with a more affordable price tag. The new, even more inexpensive crémant options offered to combat growing competition are the Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale, a sweeter option most comparable to a chardonnay, and Blanquette de Limoux Brut, a drier variety.

Read more: Future of France’s Oldest Sparkling Wine in Jeopardy

More Useful Links
Limoux Official Site
Video About Limoux

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