Languedoc Wines’ US Wine Trade Success 

Region Ends 2020 On High Note of Retail Sales and Trade Relationships 

New York, NY – January 14, 2021 – Languedoc Wines (the CIVL – Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc) has seen admirable success in 2020, even in this most unusually challenging year. Carefully considered partnerships with Wine.com and Napa Valley Wine Academy addressed retail sales and trade education goals for U.S. wine trade and kept the region top of mind with these key gatekeepers and decision makers.  

Languedoc Wines and Wine.com Partnership 

Languedoc Wines partnered with Wine.com for a special promotion of the region’s wines at the nation’s largest online retailer. This partnership yielded $1.36 million in sales revenue for Languedoc Wines (June – December 2020) and the YOY growth percentage by month outpaced that of Wine.com as a whole. The partnership also spurred expansion of Wine.com’s category search by Region to include South of France. Languedoc and its appellations were also added as search terms, giving deserved recognition to these wines from France’s largest wine region.  

Languedoc Wines and US Trade Education 

Citing support for top tier wine education as a pillar of the region’s long-term strategy, the CIVL also partnered with Napa Valley Wine Academy to create a range of education opportunities. These included an webinar on the region and its wines, a WSET Diploma level scholarship and a second iteration of the Languedoc Wines National Sommelier Challenge. An updated Regional Guide for Languedoc is also available on SevenFifty Daily. 

The winner of the 2020 Languedoc Wines WSET Diploma Scholarship is Irina Ponomarenko, a wine educator living in Los Angeles and the winner of the 2019 Languedoc Wines National Sommelier Challenge. This contest included a written essay on key elements influencing winegrowing in Languedoc, as well as global market positioning given the leadership of the Languedoc region in both organic winegrowing and rosé wine production.  At the end of October, the region announced the two winners of the 2020 Languedoc Wines National Sommelier Challenge; Melissa Graeff (Kysela Pere et Fils, LTD) and Miranda Elliot (The Elliot Wine School). Watch an interview with each on NVWA’s Instagram account. 

“As the largest wine region in France, and the leader in French organic viticulture, Languedoc, South of France wants to be top of mind with U.S. trade and educators as a dynamic source for incredible diversity and innovative, high-quality winemaking. Through these activities we have strengthened our relationships with members of the U.S. wine trade community and we look forward to continuing to work with them”, says Miren de Lorgeril, wine producer and CIVL President. 

About Languedoc Wines 

The Languedoc is France’s largest wine region with a history of innovations in winemaking dating back to the Middle Ages. Stretching along the Mediterranean coast, the climatic conditions, topography, and soils offer a multitude of unique terroir for the production of wines of excellent quality. Over 100 grape varieties are grown in Languedoc’s appellations, in a diversity of wine styles, ranging from sparkling to still to dessert wines. The CIVL represents 23 AOCs and 19 IGPs, accounting for 30% of France’s total wine production, 30% of total French rose wines (11% of global rose production), and 36% of France’s organic viticulture. 

The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL or “Languedoc Wines”), located in Narbonne in the South of France, manages the worldwide promotion of Languedoc wines. The council was set up in 1994 to represent Languedoc AOCs (Appellations of Controlled Origin) for the entire wine sector, including still, sparkling and sweet wines. This state-approved private organization gathers economic players from the local wine production sector (producers and merchants) and was joined in 2012 by the organization representing the Sud de France PGI (Protected Geographical Indication). 

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