Rocquebrun is a lovely village in the Saint-Chinian area of Languedoc-Roussillon. It has been granted its own local appellation status and as you approach the village from the south you’ll see it clinging to the hill side, with its feet cooling off in the River Orb.
If you can visit in September you’ll find the village co-operative in full swing of the harvest with trailers laden with plump handpicked grapes arriving at every moment. They’re producing some award winning wines here such as their 2012 Prestige vintage which won silver at the International Wine Challenge, and the village has a reputation for producing wines that are well rounded, fruity and smooth.
The Gardens of Roquebrun
And do linger a little longer in Rocquebrun. A steep climb will take you above the village to a rather unexpected Mediterranean Garden and some more jaw dropping views across the hills. And an “apero” at La Cave Saint Martin will give you the chance to try something different in the form of “natural” wines as well as the owner’s home reared “happy pig” charcuterie, while you listen to the sounds of the river below. The Cave Roquebrun in the village has loads of lovely wines for you to try and buy.
There’s lots of activities here for those who want a break from the wine tasting such as kayaking on the river or scootering down the hills, and if you can coincide your visit with the Mimosa festival in early February or the grape pickers festival in September, then all the better.
Carry on camping: The Campotel le Nice campsite in Roquebrun is just metres away from the river where there’s lots of activities for children and adults alike. You can hire a mobile home or a 2 man tent pitch, details: camping-lenice.com .
Transport: The region is served by a number of airports and Easy Jet fly from the UK to Montpellier and Béziers. Other airports are Perpignan, Nîmes and Carcassonne.
Plan your visit – Get the app: The AOC Saint-Chinian have a great little app where you will find details of the wine producers, routes for local walks, details of other tourist attractions and even recipes. Visit their website saint-chinian.com or your app store.
