Muscat de Lunel AOC is a sweet white Vin Doux Naturel made in the commune of Lunel and three neighbouring ones in the Hérault in France’s southern Langudeoc. The wine is made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, the name ‘Muscat de Lunel’ being its local synonym. The wine must contain 15% vol. of alcohol after fortification and a minimum 125 grammes per litre of residual sugar.

Terroir: The region lies between Nîmes and Montpellier, along the Domitian Way. Alluvium brought here over time by the Rhône (with alpine origins) has gradually created a landscape of stony layers, creating gentle hills at the top of which the vineyards have been established. The soils are made up of ‘galets roulés’ wrapped in a red clay ‘cement’ several meters thick and locally called “gress”. The production zone is limited to the north by the quaternary area of Vérargues and Saturargues, to the east by the Vidourle valley, and to the south and west by the vineyards and fruit orchards.

Climate: Typically Mediterranean, hot and dry in summer, mild in winter, with an annual average temperature of 14 ° C. Precipitation rarely exceeds 700 millimeters per year, mainly distributed over two periods, in spring and autumn, with sometimes, during this season, more intense rainfall causing “Vidouroquer”, violent floods of Vidourle. The Mistral, coming from the north-east, drying out in summer and cold in winter, is clearly felt, while the sea wind, locally called “Aigues-Mortes wind”, tempers the summer solar heat and maintains a slight freshness nocturnal.

Communes (4): Lunel, Lunel-Viel, Saturargues and Vérargues.

Vineyard area & wine production: 2002 10,300hl (Guide Hachette des Vins 2004, p.1091).