Corbières AC [kawr-BYAYR]
district located in Frances’ Languedoc-Roussillon region that was finally upgraded from VDQS to Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée status in 1986. This is a large area with diverse growing conditions—because of this it has been divided into eleven unofficial zones in a move toward defining it more distinctly. It’s possible that in the future these will be established as officially recognized subzones or appellations in their own right. The best of these subzones are Alaric, Boutenac, Lézignan, Sigean, and Termenes. A huge majority of the wines are red, produced largely from Carignan blended with small amounts of Cinsaut, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah. Small quantities of rosé are made from these same red varieties; a miniscule amount of white wine is produced mainly from Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache blanc, and Macabeo. The red wines are considered best and, since the introduction of carbonic maceration, they’re big and full-bodied (see body) yet have a fruitiness that doesn’t exist in the older traditionally made wines.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.