Muscat de Frontignan AOC is a Vin Doux Naturel made in the Languedoc region of France. It is made from the Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grape variety, one of whose synonyms is Muscat de Frontignan (Muscat of Frontignan). It was the first Muscat-based wine in France to become an appellation contrôlée in 1935 (4th July). The oldest text mentioning vines in Frontignan was a charter of Hughes Capet (987-996). In 1904, a local glassmaker created a bottle with a twisted shape to prevent fraudulent imitation wines (still in use today). In 1910 a number of winegrowers united by creating the local cooperative, the Cave de Frontignan. The AOC was awarded in 25 April 1936, France’s first Muscat-based AOC wine. In 1960 the growers’ Syndicat was formed to defend and manage the appellation. The wine comes from two communes in the Hérault department in France’s Languedoc region, listed below.

Communes (2): Frontignan. Vic-la-Gardiole.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 21,568hl from 800ha (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.1089). | 2016 15,000hl from 603ha. 85% of production comes from the region’s only coopérative (with 150 members), with 15% made by nine estates.

Terroir: The vines must occupy arid, calcareous and rocky ground comprising layers of ancient (Jurassic) molasse and alluvial deposits. Very hot in summer. Sheltered from north winds in winter by the La Gardiole hills.

Wine style: The wine must contain a minimum 125 grammes per litre of residual sugar.