The Cahors AOC was created in 1971 and is reserved exclusively for red wines crafted from Malbec grapes. The specifications governing the appellation allow two secondary grape varieties: Tannat and Merlot, but Malbec must represent at least 70% of the blend.
The vineyard differs from its counterparts elsewhere in the south-west of France due to its iconic grape variety. Cahors is the cradle of Malbec. Another specificity of the vineyard is its great diversity of terroirs, making it possible for winegrowers to craft “original” Malbec wines. But beyond that, it is in fact the winemakers of Cahors – the men and women who take pride in the values of south-western France – who make the appellation so unique.
In 2020, the AOC represented a planted vineyard area of 3,323 hectares, out of a total of 21,700 hectares covering 45 communes in the Lot, for the delimited AOC area.
Three-quarters of the producers are private wineries. The remaining quarter are members of the only cooperative winery in the appellation: the Côtes d’Olt, based in Parnac, which is now part of the Vinovalie Group.
On average, up to 15 million bottles are produced each year, depending on the vintage.
Most Cahors wines are sold in France, but they are also exported all over the world. The 3 main export markets today are the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
