Department at the southernmost tip of France with the capital Perpignan in the Occitanie region, named after its location on the eastern edge of the Pyrenees. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the east, Spain to the south, the department of Aude to the north and Andorra and the department of Ariège to the west. The wine-growing areas are part of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine-growing dual region. The AOC area covering the entire department is Côtes du Roussillon (for the other AOC areas, see Roussillon).
The IGP area covering the entire department is called Pyrénées-Orientales. Other independent IGP areas are Côtes Catalanes and Côte Vermeille. The department is also part of the large regional IGP area Pays d'Oc. The main red wine varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan Noir (Mazuelo), Cinsaut, Mourvèdre (Monastrell), Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Merlot and Syrah. The most important white wine varieties are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rolle (Vermentino) and Viognier. Well-known producers are Domaine Cazes, Domaine de l'Horizon, Domaine du Mas Chichet and Vignerons Catalans.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien