DISCOVER LANGUEDOC'S MUST-KNOW WINES
Languedoc’s heritage of innovation in viticulture and winemaking dates from the Middle Ages. Now, Languedoc is the leader in France of organic (and rosé) wine production and is an established high-quality producing region with 23 distinct and unique AOCs. Join Dir. of Education Catherine Bugue, DipWSET, and Master of Wine Peter Marks as they hone in on the diversity of terroir and grape varieties, the history and wine styles which range from sparkling to still to sweet.
2020 LANGUEDOC WINES SOMMELIER CHALLENGE
The 2020 Languedoc Wines National Sommelier Challenge was a two part test of written and blind tasting skills open to qualified trade. A written qualifying exam was followed by a blind tasting exam in October.
Two winners scored the highest in identifying the typicity and unique character of Languedoc AOC/AOP wines: Melissa Graef of Alexandria, Virginia and Miranda Eliot of Chicago, Illinois.
The prize for each was a wine media library and a collection of Languedoc AOC wines expressive of the diversity of the region. Winners were also awarded certificates.
Irina Ponomarenko
Certified Sommelier AIS/WSA, Master Taster AIS/WSA,
French Wine Scholar, WSET Advanced/Diploma Candidate,
Italian Wine Specialist, Certified Specialist of Wine.
LANGUEDOC WINES WSET DIPLOMA SCHOLARSHIP
Napa Valley Wine Academy announces the winner of the Languedoc Wines WSET Diploma Scholarship. The region offered the scholarship to the Academy’s WSET Diploma students. The contest included a written essay on key elements influencing the southern France winegrowing region of Languedoc, as well as global market positioning given the leadership of the Languedoc region in both organic winegrowing and rosé wine production.
Irina Ponomarenko, had the highest scoring essay and has been named as the recipient of the 2020 Languedoc Wines Sommelier Challenge scholarship.
Irina Ponomarenko is a wine educator living in Los Angeles. She moved to California in 2003 to pursue a graduate degree in political science at UCLA. Irina found herself more interested in the world of wine rather than that of politics. She has a number of wine industry certifications and has been sharing her passion for the world of wines and spirits through teaching. Irina is a Certified Educator for the regions of Cognac and Jerez, and in 2019, she became the winner of the Languedoc National Sommelier Challenge and traveled to the region for an immersive wine experience.
“I am honored and thrilled to get this opportunity, especially in this time of uncertainty for so many in the wine industry. Languedoc is the region of warm people and generous wines. I can’t wait to return, equipped with more wine knowledge.”
23
AOCS
36
% OF FRANCE'S ORGANIC WINE
60
% RED WINE
320
DAYS OF SUNSHINE
A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Imagine a land in the south of France, where the Mediterranean sun shines yearround, isolated and surrounded by ancient Roman edifices where wild flora and fauna bloom. Within this region, the Pyrenees mountains and the sea cradle an area that produces a third of France’s most important cultural export: wine.
This is none other than the mythic region of Languedoc, where France’s largest and oldest vineyard inspired ancient Romans and modern pioneers of art such as Picasso, Chagall, and Dali. From the Rhône banks to the foothills of the Pyrenees, from Montpellier to Carcassonne, history, and modernity meet at the crossroads. This wild land has cultivated moments of sensory pleasure throughout the ages with each Languedoc wine possessing a unique personality, whether red, white, rosé or effervescent.
The region is the perfect backdrop to play with your senses, over 100 different grape varieties grow here. A refreshed outlook exemplifies the spirit of Languedoc into the modernization of winemaking; age-old viticultural practices go hand in hand with the creative sense of pure expression and freedom. The future of French wine lies within this region, where winemakers from Languedoc are currently paving innovation in blending varietals, sustainability, organic and natural wine production and biodiversity. Past meets present with the new generations of wines, perfect for savoring any moment in life.