Vins Primeurs

A few weeks ago we celebrated a special night in Languidoc-Roussillon because it was the first release of the regions Vins Primeurs, the "1st wines" from this years grape harvest. You might have heard of Beaujolais Nouveau which is a more well-known vin primeur in California, but a lot of the wine making regions release their own vins primeurs, and since Languidoc-Roussillon is a huge wine region there were a lot of street parties and tastings all over. In the big Place they set out tents and tasting tables, and everyone comes out to try this years newest wines. This is also an opportunity to experience some of the traditional music and dancing from this region which until a hundred years ago spoke Occitane instead of French. Now, the old traditions are dying out, but at festivals like this you get to hear some traditional music and folk dance.