Maury

Maury is an appellation for the sweet vins doux naturels produced around the northern Roussillon town of Maury, in the far south of France. This area also makes characterful dry red and white wines under the title IGP Côtes Catalanes.

Maury's vins doux naturels are produced predominantly from the Grenache grape varieties (Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris). They are made in a very similar style to the sweet wines of Banyuls, 35 miles (57km) to the south-east, which also use Grenache. The wines come in red, rosé and white variants, with the colour resulting from the exacting winemaking techniques that are employed. In their youth, these wines are tannic and intensely fruity, but they become more savoury and deeply coloured as they age.

The terrain around Maury is dominated by steep limestone cliffs, which mark the beginning of the Pyrenees foothills. High above the town of Maury itself sit the ruins of the 1,000-year-old castle of Queribus, a towering landmark which until 1659 was used to defend the French border against the Spanish. It remains today a potent symbol of the local cultures, which are still split between those of France and Spain.

Production of Maury wines is dominated by a small number of co-operatives and a few smaller, independent producers.