Vineyards: they straddle 3 communes: Laudun, Saint-Victor-la-Coste and Tresques in the French Department of the Gard.
Soil types: stony or gravely slopes, arid skeletal soils.
Climate: typical Mediterranean affected by the Mistral.
Background: Although these vineyards have been in existence since Roman times it was not until the 17th Century that they became well known. Lauden was one of the famous and traditional “Côte du Rhône Gardoise” wines. A report made by a panel of experts on the Laudun Appellation's terrain and wines enabled the Tribunal d’Uzés to define, from 1947 onwards, both the area and production conditions relating to this wine, and was, in 1967, consecrated Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun.
Area under cultivation: 493 hectares, yearly production: 18434 hl; basic yield: 37 hl/hectare.
* Source: harvest statement 2009.
Grape variety mix:
for the reds, Grenache 50% minimum, Syrah and / or Mourvèdre 20% minimum, other grape varieties of the Appellation tolerated 20% maximum
For the rosé, Grenache 50% minimum, Syrah and / or Mourvèdre 20% minimum, other grape varieties tolerated 20% maximum, white grape varieties 20% maximum (Grenache, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc and Viognier).
For the whites, Grenache white, Clairette white, Marsanne white, Roussanne white, Bourboulenc white, Viognier white, other white grape varieties tolerated 20% maximum.
Minimum alcoholic strength: for the red 12.5%, for the rosé and the whites 12%.
