Fronton celebrates its 50th year as an Appellation d’Origine Protégée

I can’t recall exactly when I tasted my first wine from Fronton. It may well have been during the period in my 30s and 40s while I was working outside of the US, when it was easier to access an international library of wines. One thing I know for sure is that it was not amongst any of the almost 200 wines samples tasted over the course of my wine certifications.

Hopeful inquiries at Toulouse wine shops – “Do you stock any Fronton wines?” or “Can you recommend a Fronton wine?” – often elicited responses to the likes of “Fronton doesn’t make good wine”, in other words no, or simply that they didn’t stock any. Bottles occasionally found at the supermarket would be unimpressive or disappointingly unpleasant, all unworthy of further exploration.

My chéri, who has spent his adult life in the Toulouse area though admittedly had not visited wineries in the Fronton appellation either, was convinced that there were good Fronton wines. He found a 2018 Château de la Forêt red on the Decanter website that had won gold to prove the point. I took a scan over the webpage and, although still skeptical about the general quality of Fronton wines, agreed to spend my next R&D excursion in the region.

To inaugurate the first visit to the Fronton appellation, which is 30 kilometers or 18 miles north of Toulouse, we started at the local Maison des Vins to hone in on which of the 30 or so wineries to visit. This "house of wines" is located in the heart of Fronton in the beautifully restored Château de Capdeville shared with the tourism office. Its small, packed room offers floor-to-ceiling shelves full of local wines for tasting and for purchase.

On this typically grey, cloud-covered day in the middle of winter, the tastings we had changed my opinion of Fronton wine from skeptical to hopeful. The reds were deeply colored and fruity with smooth tannins. This was my kind of red!

Négrette is the signature and indigenous grape varietal of Fronton. In order to be labelled “Fronton AOP” (Appellation d’Origine Protégée), the wine must be made with a minimum of 50% Négrette. Reds are commonly blended with Syrah or Syrah and Malbec, but the best ones are 100% Négrette, displaying intense aromas of small black fruits, licorice, and violet. Its color is deeply rich, a gorgeous black purple, bringing to mind Malbec (Cahors) and Tannat (Madiran).

The rosés are delightfully refreshing, also from the native Négrette, blended with Syrah and Gamay. On the palate, they tasted luscious, of ever-so-gently candied fruit with well-balanced acidity. For those who are fans of Cotes de Provence rosés, you’ll appreciate the delicate pink color indicative of rosés that are made by direct pressing.

I did not leave empty-handed that day and was well advised which winery to visit, one of the few that were open that dreary winter Saturday, a welcome excuse to continue exploration of my favorite beverage.

I’ll be heading to the Fronton annual wine festival this coming weekend. Though it is in its 36^th year, this will be my first year attending and I can’t wait to taste more Fronton wines.

Sip Tip: If you’re traveling in Southwest France, a stop in Fronton pairs beautifully with a wine journey through Gaillac, Cahors, and Bergerac. Together, these appellations reveal the diversity and charm of the region’s winemaking heritage.

Ready to explore? Book your winery tour and let us guide you through the flavors and stories of these hidden gems.

Contact Kareen @ wine.dordogne@gmail.com or WhatsApp +33 7 86 54 40 16

~~~~~

Fronton celebrates its 50^th year as an Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP). Read more here