📜 Côtes de Thau
Still red, rosé and white wines (IGP) from 15 communes of the Hérault department around the Thau lagoon near the town of Sète.
Côtes de Thau is a French wine with a protected geographical indication (IGP in France, PGI in the EU) from 15 communes of the Hérault department that form an amphitheatre around the Thau lagoon, near Sète.
The specification reserves the name for still red, rosé and white wines with a minimum actual alcoholic strength of 9% vol. The maximum yield is 120 hl per hectare for white and rosé and 110 hl per hectare for red. The label may add grape variety names, the terms primeur or nouveau, and the smaller unit Cap d'Agde for grapes from Agde and Marseillan. The wine was formerly the Vin de Pays des Côtes de Thau, recognised by a decree of 16 November 1981.
White wines dominate, about 75% of production according to the specification. The historic variety is Terret Blanc, alongside Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Viognier; red wines combine Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir. A long list of other varieties is also authorised.
How it connects to Wine
📜 Côtes de Thau → → → 🍷 Still wine → kind of → 🍷 Types of wine → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Related to
- 📍 Languedoc, 🍷 Still wine
- Wines
- 🍷 White wine, 🍷 Red wine, 🍷 Rosé
Frequently asked questions
Where is Côtes de Thau wine made?
In 15 communes of the Hérault department around the Thau lagoon, including Sète, Agde, Marseillan, Mèze and Frontignan.
Which wines does the Côtes de Thau IGP cover?
Still red, rosé and white wines, mostly white. The minimum alcohol is 9% vol. and the yield is up to 120 hl per hectare for white and rosé and 110 hl for red.
Which grapes are used?
The historic variety is Terret Blanc, alongside Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Viognier; reds combine Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Syrah with international varieties. The variety may appear on the label.
What to read next
- 📍 Languedoc — Wine appellation on hills and plains along the Gulf of Lion, from Nîmes to the Spanish border.
- 🍷 Red wine — Wine from dark grapes that ferments with the skins and takes its colour from them.
- 🍷 Still wine — Wine without noticeable bubbles: EU category 1, at least 8.5–9 % actual alcohol and no more than 15 % total; red, white, rosé or orange.
Similar
📜 Aude · 📜 Coteaux de Béziers · 📜 Haute Vallée de l'Orb · 📜 Sable de Camargue · 📜 Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert · 📜 Vallée du Torgan
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- eAmbrosia – EU geographical indications register
- Cahier des charges de l'IGP « Côtes de Thau » (BO Agri, arrêté du 12 octobre 2021)
- Wikidata