Sun-drenched lands on the Mediterranean coast
The arboretum at Canet-en-Roussillon
and its national collection of Languedoc Roussillon grape varieties.
The 11-hectare site is made up of two biotopes: an alluvial plain and a clay-limestone plateau, located 5km from the Mediterranean Sea and ponds. The arboretum’s mission is to showcase plants adapted to the Mediterranean climate from all 5 continents. Several collections are on display, including an exceptional collection of over 26 wine grape varieties and 19 table grape varieties, all from the Languedoc Roussillon region. This wine-growing region, the largest expanse of vines in the world, is remarkably rich in heritage.
As a conservatory of plant biodiversity, the arboretum’s role is both scientific and educational. It’s also a popular tourist attraction.
The wine vine belongs to the Ampelidaceae botanical family. Of the ten genera it includes, only Vitis is important for wine. From Vitis come two subgenera: Muscadinia and Euvitis, comprising 36 species, only one of which makes all the world’s best wines. It was named Vitis vinifera by 18th-century naturalist Carl von Linné.
Grape varieties used for wine are almost exclusively white-juice varieties: white-skinned varieties make white wines, black-skinned varieties make white wines without maceration, and red or rosé wines with maceration.
Nourished by the waters of the Têt river, the vines sink their roots into the rolled pebbles. Sea inlets cool it down and provide valuable moisture.
Côte du Roussillon appellation or IGP, the estates here are a reflection of the men and women who bring them to life. Five estates produce traditional Mediterranean grape varieties that fear neither wind nor sun. Vines have been cultivated here for 800 years, using natural elements derived from the fragmentation of the Pyrenees. By dint of erosion, the rock has become this unique terroir that benefits from optimal sunshine, swept by the tramontana, the Spanish wind and the sea breeze that cleanse foliage and fruit. Over the years, generations of winegrowers have built up this vineyard of excellence. Their highly distinctive wines reflect a rich and well-preserved biodiversity.
