South-west France

New name used as of the 2005 vintage to replace the designation Côtes du Frontonnais. The appellation is named after the town of Fronton, and is located immediately to the west of the AC Gaillac in the Sud-Ouest wine-growing region in France. The first classification took place in 1975, with the merger of the two VDQS regions Villaudric and Fronton. This is an ancient wine-growing region, which was once owned by the Order of St. John, which was founded in 1050. King Louis XIII (1601 – 1643) and his prime minister Cardinal Richelieu (1585 – 1642) held extensive wine tastings here during the siege of Montauban, the capital of the département of Tarn-et-Garonne, and at the time the main centre of the Huguenots. The vineyard area totals 2.100 hectares. The communes of Fronton and Villaudric are permitted to add their names to that of the AC. The rosé wine, as well as the red wine described as the „Beaujolais of Toulouse“ are blends made from Négrette (50 to 70%), Malbec (maximum of 25%), Mérille, Fer, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as from a maximum of 15% of Gamay, Cinsaut and Mauzac. Well-known producers include Château Baudare, Château Bellevue la Forêt, Château Boujac, Château Bouissel, Château Cahuzac, Château Coutinel, Château Flotis, Domaines de Gaze, Domaine Joliet, Château Marguerite, Domaine du Roc, Château Plaisance and Château St-Guilhem.