Grand Roussillon is a Sweet, high Alcohol white wine produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southern France. It is a natural sweet wine made by Mutage, which gives it an alcohol content of about 16% and a high natural residual sugar content. Some Grand Roussillon wines are produced using a prolonged oxidative ageing process, such as Rancio; all are subject to a minimum of two years' ageing before being released for sale. The main Grape varieties used to make this relatively rare wine are Muscat Blanc, Muscat d'Alexandrie, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Maccabeu.
Under the appellation laws, Carignan, Cinsaut and Syrah are also allowed, as is Listan, an obscure grape more commonly associated with the Canary Islands. The mention of grape varieties on the labels of Grand Roussillon wines is forbidden, unless the wine is made exclusively from the grape varieties mentioned; in no case may the name Muscat be mentioned. This last clause is intended to maintain the distinction between these rare wines and the sweet Muscat-based wines that are more widespread in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Grand Roussillon can be considered a cousin of the better known sweet wines of Rivesaltes and Banyuls.
