Roussillon, the discreet French vineyard with a bold wine tourism future

@Calice Hospitality I Domaine Roc des Anges

A new season begins for Calice Hospitality, and once again we’re setting out through the vineyards. Our journey takes us south to Roussillon, a wine region still too little-known, often overshadowed by the vast ‘Languedoc’, yet carrying a truly singular identity.

At the southern tip of France, between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, Roussillon is a world apart . A proud and contrasting Catalan land, marked by its sun-baked schists, steep terraces, and powerful winds. With barely 20,000 hectares of vines, it is one of the most confidential vineyards in France. Heir to the naturally sweet wines that forged its reputation (Banyuls, Maury, Rivesaltes), it has been experiencing a real renaissance for two decades. Young, passionate winemakers and iconic estates produce highly precise reds and whites, often grown organically or biodynamically, which are increasingly attracting wine lovers in France and internationally.

But beyond its wines, Roussillon has a wine tourism potential that is still largely underexploited . Its landscapes, at the crossroads of the mountains and the sea, are spectacular and preserved. Its heritage is incredibly rich: fortified villages, Romanesque abbeys, hilltop chapels and the powerful imagery of the Cathar Castles. Added to this is a natural complementarity with the coastline: the Catalan coast, long marked by popular seaside tourism, today attracts a demanding clientele in search of authentic and unique experiences. The wine-growing hinterland presents itself as an ideal alternative, where calm, beauty, human encounters and cultural discoveries are combined.

Pioneers are already leading the way. Intimate, LE CLOS D'ELPIS showcases Catalan conviviality with its cellar tours and summer evenings around tapas and music. On the steep terraces of Banyuls, the Domaine de La Rectorie embodies a living heritage: ancient grape varieties, manual harvests and the unique expression of schist make it a dream setting for building a charming wine tourism destination.

Other experiences complete the picture. Domaine de Rombeau focuses on transmission and initiation, with an educational immersion "from the vine to the tasting" that appeals to both beginners and the curious. Domaine Sol Payré offers its “sensory walk” in the heart of the garrigue, a sensory journey that combines soil discovery, participatory workshops, and outdoor tastings. Finally, the specialized wine tours that travel through the Agly Valley already reveal the diversity of this unique vineyard, introducing iconic names like Le Soula, Gauby, Cazes, Pouderoux, Les Schistes, and Gardiés.

These initiatives, while still too isolated, nevertheless point the way. They highlight how the Roussillon wine tourism market remains embryonic, yet full of opportunities. Everything remains to be built, and this is undoubtedly what makes this vineyard so exciting today.

It is now about:

• structure a coherent offer of accommodation and tours , in line with the uniqueness of the regions,

• building bridges between wine, gastronomy, heritage and culture , to invent

  a complete experiential destination,

• assume a differentiating position , focusing on authenticity, elegance and slow tourism rather than quantity.

Roussillon is not intended to become a mass destination. Its strength lies elsewhere: in its rarity, its intensity, the beauty of its contrasts. By embracing this difference, this confidential vineyard has all the cards in hand to become one of the Mediterranean references for wine tourism of tomorrow .

Anne-Laure Pellet Pascale GIMENEZ Aude Vivès-Albertini Hervé Novelli Nathalie Delattre Ludovic WALBAUM Martin LHUILLIER Laurence Herlin Lemaire

More info at www.calicehospitality.com