Global Wine Spirits - Index

Global Wine Spirits - Bellevue - Index

HISTORY
The vineyard of Frontonnais is linked to the history
of this county town, which was administrated for
many years by the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.
However the first written historic traces highlighting
the importance and the reputation of this vineyard,
only show up in 1122, on a parchment written in
Latin about the donation of Fronton to the Order of
Saint-John of Jerusalem. Then Louis the 13th,
passing through Fronton in 1632, also appreciated
this wine from the county of Toulouse, the suite of
which consumed "strong casks".
The beginning of the harvest was decided upon by
the grand prior following the proposition of the
consuls who advised him about its development "in
order for him to prepare to receive his duties". The
preceding Sunday, the consuls had recuperated "the
report of the tribunal which visited and checked the
vineyard of the consulate of "Fronton" in view of
determining the state of maturity of the harvest".
The vineyard of Fronton quickly got over the
extremely violent religious wars in this region and
seems to have reached its apogee during the 18th
and 19th centuries before collapsing during the
phylloxera crisis.
Officially recognised as a Vin Délimité de Qualité
Supérieure since 1945, the vineyard of the Côtes de
Frontonnais became an Appellation d'Origine
Contrôlée on the 7th of February, 1975.
Since the 1 st of September 2005, the AOC Côtes de
Frontonnais becomes AOC FRONTON.
CLIMATE
The climate is that of the region of Toulouse,
windswept with moderate rainfall. At a crossroads
between Mediterranean and Atlantic climates, the
area is characterised by frequent sunshine (2,100
hours per year) and a regime of low and irregular
rainfall (650 mm per year).
Summer is often hot and dry, as is Autumn during
harvest time. The chief wind, the famous “vent
d’Autan”, is a hot and dry wind from the
Mediterranean which releases its water over the
ranges of the Cevennes.
GRAPE VARIETIES
The main variety used in producing red and rosés is
Négrette, of which 50% to 70% has to be planted.
It’s this refined and delicate variety, found no where
else in the world, which brings about the charm and
personality of Fronton wines.
Secondary varieties : Cinsault, Syrah, Cabernet
Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Mérille,
Mauzac, Cot and Fer.
Yield is restricted to 50 hl/hectare.
SITUATION
Approximately 20 km North of Toulouse, between
the Tarn-&-Garonne and Haute-Garonne
départements, surrounded by the Tarn River and the
lateral canal of the Garonne River, the vineyard of
Fronton is the shape of a rugby ball, extending
across 20 districts and 2,400 hectares under vine.
The vines spread across the three quaternary alluvial
terraces of the Tarn's right bank, each of which have
a specific soil type. They represent three phases of
alluvial development during which the Tarn
produced a group of alluvial planes.
It is possible to identify three groups :
� High terraces forming a peak at an
altitude of 220 metres. The ancient levels are
covered in clay, joined by red soils equally rich in
clay, the colour of which explains their local name
"rouget". These are the best terroirs for the
production of great wines.
� Very flat, medium terraces, situated at an
altitude of 150 metres in altitude, occupying the
centre of the appellation, from Fronton to
Villaudric. The sub-soil is made up of alluvions of
unchanged pebbles, often covered with aeolian silt.
� On the East side, the lower terraces and
the Tarn’s current terrace, are composed of recent
alluvials. When the ground water doesn’t flood,
there is shallow gravelly soil composed of silica.
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