The Agly Valley

Rugged hillsides of black schist

The vineyards of Maury are located upstream along the Agly Valley, in the North of the department.

The cliff faces overlooking the village to the North and South are formed of very pure limestone whilst the valley floor is covered with black schist-marl.

Dating back to the Cretaceous period, the marl produces shallow black soils, forcing vines to put down deep roots.

The rugged hillsides of black schist surrounding the village of Maury are home to the Maury Sec appellation, Roussillon’s youngest AOP.

The foothills of the Corbières

Farther East, along the foothills of the Corbières, the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel appellation area extends over similarly limestone-dominant soils with pockets of schist-marl.

Back towards Agly, South of Maury, the vineyards for AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde are situated on a plateau formed of granite sand 300 metres above sea level. Due to its location and soil composition, the area is unique.

Hallmark red soils

In the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany appellation area, dropping down towards the South-East, vineyards are planted on Precambrian gneiss and granite. The resultant soils, with their typical red hue, are extremely propitious for growing quality wines.

Farther down river, the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour-de-France is nestled amongst hillsides with characteristic grey-brown schist soils.