Fitou wine is well-established, particularly in the UK - most people know the name, can pronounce it easily, and may even have tried a bottle or two. But ask them where Fitou is and the chances are they'll look at you blankly. So here's your chance to shine at your next dinner party: serve a few bottles of full-bodied, feisty red Fitou and regale your guests with a little background.



First and foremost, a couple of facts. Fitou is the oldest appellation in the Languedoc-Roussillon region (and not a lot people know that). It is divided into two zones that border Corbi?res, with the smaller zone lying around the coastal town of Fitou itself, and the larger zone's vineyards dominating the land between Villeneuve-les-Corbi?res and Tuchan. Although the communes here can produce golden-hued Rivesaltes vins doux naturels, most of the wines are reds, made mainly from the Carignan grape variety blended with Grenache, Mourv?dre and Syrah. Good Fitou vintages tend to be herb-flavoured with a wild, spicy character; think simple, medium- to full-bodied, rustic reds.



Next up, the place itself. Fitou is small but lively winemaking village in the south of France, in the Aude d?partement of the Languedoc region. It's about 10 minutes drive from the beaches of the Mediterranean, an hour and a half from ski resorts in the Pyrenees, and you can even do a day trip to Spain from Fitou. A number of expats (mainly British, Dutch and Germans) have chosen to make their homes here; Fitou appeals to families with young children as it's quiet enough to feel very safe while providing all the necessary services and amenities to make life comfortable year-round, including a primary school, bar, several restaurants, a boulangerie, a supermarket, launderette, a snack bar - and of course, lots of wine (which can be bought direct from the producers). It's a popular village with foreign visitors as it is still largely unspoilt, but it's hardly an expat enclave, and everyone is well integrated; it's a very small, friendly community.



Properties range from small village houses (maison de village) through to modern villas and apartments in the Domaine de Capitelles, a new development situated up on the hills surrounding the village. Cheaper properties tend to change hands quickly, especially if they have an outside area, as gardens are hard to come by. The Fitou area is considered to be a good place to look for older property to renovate; lower-priced village houses invariably need modernization or at least decoration, and by renovating an older property it is possible to create a home that is exactly to your tastes while saving money.



Fans of modern building styles will need to look elsewhere. Occasionally, recently-built villas come onto the market but they are far and few between, and there are very few plots of building land left; you'd need to look a little further afield to be able to build your own home from scratch. House prices in and around Fitou have boomed since the Millennium, but have now become relatively stable. As an example, in the nearby village of Paziols, a two-bedroom village house renovated in a modern style is currently on the market for ?104,500, while a pretty, three-bed village house with original features (wooden beams, open fireplaces and a period staircase) and plenty of charm is selling for ?129,600. For more details of these and other properties, visit www.viboimmobilier.com.

About the Author

Louise has lived in France, in the city of Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon for the past 5 years.

Louise writes for a number of French life magazines and was asked to write a number of articles on life and experiences in France by French real estate agents Vibo Immobilier (http://www.viboimmobilier.com), based in the wine village of Fitou.

Short Review on Beer Basket

HOUSE HUNTING IN WINE COUNTRY - FITOU


Fitou wine is well-established, particularly in the UK - most people know the name, can pronounce it easily, and may even have tried a bottle or two. ...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Featured Beer Basket Items

Steady Sticks Wine Bottle Holder


Steady Sticks balance wine bottles in any outdoor setting. Weather resistant stainless steel holders are sturdy and simple to use. Just push one (or several) into the grass or sand for spill-free wining and dining.


Price: 14.95 USD



News about Beer Basket

Robot thinks people taste like bacon

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:20:11 -0700
NEC researchers have created a robot for tasting wine. When turned against its masters, the robot said definitively, "bacon!" and "prosciutto!"

Europe faces spirited fight over the definition of Vodka.

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 08:48:52 -0700
The traditional Vodka producing countries are on one side, and the backers of multinational corporations are on the other. Europe must decide what ingredients will be allowed in Vodka. I bet France, England, and the Netherlands would have different opinions if corporations were trying to redefine wine, tea, and cheese.

Pitgreen Micro Golf

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:42:47 -0700
this a great award wining toy ! you can play golf anywhere. great design. if you liked the fingerboard you should definitely take a look at this one.

Wine, Information rent, and web2.0

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 14:39:30 -0700
The reason is none of those sites are what I would call web2.0 sites. The definition is sort of loose, but after briefly looking at all four of the sites listed they are web 1.0 sites with a couple 2.0 features tossed in and the result is a mess.

Life's a breeze (China Daily)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:21:05 -0800
It's a sunny Sunday morning and Jeff Wang is setting out for a morning's sailing with his four mates. He said he bought his yacht on an impulse six years ago, while visiting the US Mercury Yacht Club at Taihu Lake in Suzhou. At that time he had no idea how to sail.

Sydney Guide (RainbowNetwork.com)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:52:27 -0800
Sydney and the surrounding harbour has the weather of Southern California, the relaxed maritime life of Seattle, and the beautiful coastal hills of San Francisco.

World's best New Year's Eve parties (CNN)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:05:56 -0800
It's every city's favorite excuse for a party. Here are ten spectacular ways to ring in 2009.


Wine Rack
Vintage Charts | Vintage Wine

Labels: Wine Yeast | Winemaking

Posted by Patrick Ramsey | 0 comments