wine wine including pays labeled produced southern france refer specific historic region france usage 20th century especially context wine primarily referred northern france area spans mediterranean coastline french border spain region area acres km2 single biggest wine producing region world responsible france total wine production region produced wine united_states history history traced planted coast near early greeks fifth century parts oldest planted france region belonged france thirteenth century acquired spain mid seventeenth century regions joined administrative region late 1980s 4th century 18th early 19th centuries reputation producing high quality wine paris 14th century area prescribed hospitals healing powers advent late 19th century production shifted mass produced cheap red wine satisfy growing work force use highly prolific varieties produced high yields thin normally blended red wine algeria body epidemic 19th century severely affected wine industry killing higher quality susceptible american naturally resistant limestone soil place acres lower quality planted world wars responsible providing daily wine rations given french soldiers algeria gained independence france bringing end blending stronger red wine mask thin event coupled french consumers moving away cheap red 1970s contributed decades surplus wine production france largest contributor european wine lake recurring european_union subsidies aimed reducing production developments prompted producers start higher quality led local regional protests including violent ones infamous despite general reputation mass producer consensus region midst economic crisis parts wine industry experiencing commercial success outside investment increased focus quality sales improved concentrate creating good brand relying infamous regional designations adopted youngest batch classifications developed late 1990s designated blends entirely instead shifting single practice increasingly demanded consumers large wine market climate geography region shares terrain climate characteristics neighboring regions region stretches miles spanish border west coast mediterranean_sea east northern boundaries region sit mountain ranges valleys dominating area located generally planted coastal plains mediterranean found narrow valleys peak growing season august dry majority annual rainfall occurs winter plains area arid hottest region france region mediterranean climate growing large wide variety area mass production average annual temperature inland wind northwest dry climate drought common threat vine production french european_union regulation prohibiting use irrigation december french government responded global warming concerns relaxed irrigation regulations severe weather damaging effects wine producing industry including affected rain surge mid november saw year worth rain fall hours areas western composition soil varies chalk limestone gravel based soils inland soils near coast highly rated laid ancient stones similar best known include known vast majority produced wine number system region undergoing considerable changes new created existing ones changing recent change changed extended include larger sub districts distinct wine styles sub districts pending applications right granted sub umbrella include boundary eastern wine region moved slightly result year moved responsibility oversight wine regional committee valley local producers styled lobbied change local traditions coincide administrative borders presumably greater prestige marketplace changes borders wine regions rare habit remains listed wine publications area home numerous varieties including international varieties like traditional prominent major white pays sparkling include principal sparkling sweet fortified regions grains fortified reds major commonly production noir noir main fortified region oldest france use varieties found include taxonomy carry enormous number names ranging broad regional designations like specific geographical classifications restrictions variety like 1990s creating smaller classifications account intricate soil variations younger like like smaller scope new praised consistently improving product criticized additions system classification majority wine produced labeled sizable production pays introduction pays classification produced stringent regulations opened wine industry labeling blending international varieties examples include pays pays pays capitalized new horizon producing like fat red naturally sweet fortified stop leaving sugar add sweetness wine majority sweet white variety red fortified normally alcohol level carry range use methods encourage deep colors utilize system transporting wine different size barrels ages left sun warm wine large glass expose direct sunlight addition dark color resulting taste called wine required aged wood barrels half years produced according known method produce champagne including second bottle carbon dioxide produced small villages town normally composed combination regulations require year aging labelled composed entirely undergoes aged approximately months actual date determined moon cycle
Languedoc-Roussillon wine