In 1936 Chateauneuf du
Pape and Tavel was approved by INAO among the first appellations
of France. The two appellations were established after several years of
discussions among the local winegrowers lead by Baron
Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie, the owner of Chateau
Fortia in Chateauneuf du
Pape.
!n 1937 the appellation Côtes du Rhône was approved including wines from other communes in Rhone. Already in 1767 wines shipped from the harbour of
Roquemaure were marked CDR to prove the size of the barrels and the authenticity of
the wines.
The neighbours of the Tavel appellation also wanted to have an appellation of
their own not only including rosé wine but also red and white wine. Lirac had
their own "Baron le Roy", the owner of Chateau de Ségriès in Lirac,
Comte Henri de Regis de Gatimel. He was the prime mover in shaping
the new appellation. The Second World War stopped the creation of an appellation
but as soon as the war ended it became a reality.
The local authorities in Uzès approved the rules 11th October 1945.
The appellation was approved by INAO 14th October 1947.
Production area
Vineyards from four communes are included in the appellation:
Roquemaure, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Saint-Genies-de-Comolas and Lirac
Allowed grapes for white wine
Primary varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne.
Secondary varieties: Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Viognier.
Allowed grapes for red and
rosé wine
Primary varieties:
Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah.
Secondary varieties: Carignan, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache
Gris, Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Noir, Roussanne, Ugni
Blanc, Viognier
Rules for percentages of grape varieties in the producer's vineyards
Lirac Rouge
Grenache Noir has to count for at least 40% of
the plantation.
Mourvedre and/or Syrah has to
count for at least 25% of
the plantation.
The share of Carignan may
not exceed 10% of
the plantation.
The share of Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Gris
and Piquepoul Noir together may not exceed
10% of the plantation.
The share of white varieties may
not exceed 5% of the plantation.
Lirac Rosé
Grenache Noir has to count for at least 40% of
the plantation.
Mourvedre and/or Syrah has to count for at
least 25% of
the plantation.
The share of Carignan may
not exceed 10% of
the plantation.
The share of white varieties
may
not exceed 20% of
the plantation.
Lirac Blanc
A single primary variety may
not exceed 60% of the plantation.
A single secondayty variety
may not exceed 25% of the plantation.
The share of secondary
varieties may
not exceed 30% of the plantation.
Declared area and yield 2015-2019
AOP Lirac Rouge, Rosé, Blanc - 2016
|
Production in hl |
Hectolitres of |
||
| Rouge | Rosé | Blanc | |
| 24 370 | 21.432 | 865 | 2371 |
| Percentage | 87% | 3% | 10% |
Since 2015 Rodolphe de Pins Chateau de Montfaucon, Montfaucon, has been
the président for AOC Lirac
You can buy wines from most producers in a shop in the northern
outskirts of Lirac village at Chemin des Chênes.