Covering 5,745 hectares, this regional appellation encompasses wines produced in the Pyrénées-Orientales, on the schistous soils of the Pyrenees foothills. In the northern part of the region, the Côtes du Roussillon-Village appellation designates the finest red wines. Côtes du Roussillon wines are produced in red, based on Grenache grape varieties (the most widely planted), Syrah and Mourvèdre, the latter two must represent at least 20% of the blend, Carignan and Maccabéo (a white grape variety that can represent up to 10% of the blend) which yield robust and fruity wines, high in alcohol. It is also an appellation for white wines, made from Grenache Blanc, Maccabéo, Malvoisie (Tourbat in Roussillon), Roussanne and Vermentino (or Rolle), low in acidity, highly aromatic. Among the finest producers, we mention Château de Jau, Gauby, Domaines Picquemal, Sarda-Malet and Singla. Nevertheless, cooperatives remain dominant in the Côtes du Roussillon market.