The Most Underrated Region in France: Languedoc-Roussillon w/ Ioana Bucur (Part 1)

Ep 138

What if one of the oldest wine regions in the world is also the one most wine lovers overlook?

This conversation with Ioana Bucur, new co-owner of Princess and Bear Wines, dives deep into the heart of Languedoc and Roussillon, the southern French wine regions known for authenticity, history, and an unmatched sense of place. You’ll hear how centuries of tradition, diverse terroir, and small artisanal domaines shape wines that are vibrant, expressive, and surprisingly affordable.

From mountain vineyards and Mediterranean breezes to volcanic soils and female winemakers, this episode is a journey through the people, land, and stories that make these wines so unforgettable. Whether you love crisp whites, bold reds, or sparkling wines, this region has it all and then some.

If you’ve been wanting to explore new wine regions or step outside your comfort zone, this is the perfect place to start!

And don’t miss next week's episode where I’m back with another conversation with Ioana! 

Use code BONJOUR and receive 10% off your online purchase at www.theprincessandthebear.com.

And if you are in the Seattle area, mention that you are a Cork & Fizz podcast listener and receive a complimentary tasting when you visit the Princess and Bear tasting room in January and February 2026. To make a reservation for the tasting room call, email at info@theprincessandthebear.com or you can make one on the website.

Thank you to the following brands for sponsoring this podcast:

• Bon Chocolats: Go to www.bonchocolats.com and use code CORKANDFIZZ10 for 10% off your order!

Connect with Ioana:

Website: https://www.theprincessandthebear.com/

Episode Highlights:

• Childhood memories that shaped a lifelong connection to wine
  
  
• How Princess and Bear Wines began
  
  
• What makes Languedoc-Roussillon authentic and overlooked
  
  
• Climate and terroir factors that keep wines fresh in a warm region
  
  
• Why organic and biodynamic farming thrive here
  
  
• Limoux as the birthplace of traditional sparkling wine
  
  
• Standout white wine styles, from crisp and mineral to complex and savory
  
  
• How volcanic soils and fossils influence flavor
  
  
• Why trying unfamiliar wines expands your palate
  
  
• What to expect from the region’s red wines, from juicy to bold and complex

• The traditional-method sparkling wines of Limoux and their blends

Transcript

0:09

Interested in learning about wine but not sure where to start? You're in the right place. Welcome to the Cork and Fizz Guide to Wine Podcast. I'm your host, Hayley Bowlman and I'm so glad you're here. I'm a wine enthusiast turned wine educator and and founder of the Seattle based wine tasting business Cork and Fizz. It is my goal to build your confidence in wine by making it approachable and lots of fun. You can expect to learn everything from how to describe your favorite wine to what to pair with dinner tonight and so much more. Whether you're a casual wine sipper or a total cork dork like myself, this podcast is for you. So grab yourself a glass and let's dive in. Hello and welcome back to the Cork and Fizz Guide to Wine Podcast. I am so glad you're here. Today I am chatting with Iwana Bakur. She is the new co owner of the Princess and Bear in Seattle, a wine bar in south park focused on wines from Southern France. Ioana has been part of Princess and Bear since the very beginning back in 2019, and through the years she's worn many hats, from logistics and importing to tasting room management and events. Before working at Princess and Bear, Iwana studied geography, English and hospitality and over the years earned certifications in wine sales and marketing and became a French wine Scholar in 2018. She's always had a deep passion for travel, hospitality, nature and discovering different cultures and that's what eventually led her to this amazing wine journey in the south of France. I've actually got to work with Ioana multiple times. I've partnered with Princess and Bear to host tasting classes. So we do a little kind of combination of learning generally how to taste wine, which is where I come in. And then Ioana shares her just such knowledgeable information on the south of France and everyone who comes loves it. They always get to try really unique wines that they probably have never heard of before. And it's always such a fun time. So I figured why not? I know many of you listening to this right now don't live in Seattle, so you don't have the opportunity to do a class with us, but we can bring the class to you. So that is exactly what we're doing with this podcast. We'll learn a little bit more about Oana just because I think it's so fun to learn the background of all the wine professionals and then we'll dive into the wines of Southern France and you'll get to learn more about this region. And while I could tell you about it. I want us far more of an expert, so you should listen to her. So without further ado, let's get into the interview. All right, so I always like to start. One of my favorite questions to start with, with any wine lover enthusiast is how did you fall in love with wine? Oh, my God, this love for wine. You know, I thought about it years ago when I was in the middle of working for Princess and Bear. I was like, how did it start? When did it start? I feel like it was always with me, but what was there? And you know, since I was a little girl back in Romania, I've always connected places with smells. My grandma's drawers filled with spices, quinces ripening on top of furniture in winter, burning logs in the fireplace, scent of ripe fruit and earth in general. And I've always been drawn to smells that told stories. And one of those was the smell of a cellar. The must, the wine. That deep and mysterious scent of fermentation. I spent most of my vacations in the countryside with my grandparents. And every fall people made wine. Not necessarily because it was a big wine region. Romania has big wine regions, but not where my grandparents were, but because it was part of life. Every cellar had glass jars mostly bubbling away. One of my uncles had this huge cellar with built in barrels. And I remember how fascinated I was when I first stepped into that cellar. I couldn't believe my eyes. Like, I'm talking about a thousand liter barrels. Humongous. And I didn't really understand wine until much later when I started studying at the Northwest wine Academy in 2017. And that was when everything connected. The smells, the places, the spaces, the people, the feeling of closeness and familiarity. Wine just took me back home in a way, and it stays with me that way. Oh, that's such a great answer. I don't think I've ever heard it said that way, but I think it's really beautiful of like, it is such a true thing that wine has this beautiful. I mean, it's the aromatics in which are tied to memory so strongly. And, you know, being able to kind of connect all that together. Like you've kind of always done that. And then wine really allowed you to like, really be in that space and brought you back to memories of family and home. Wine is a storyteller. Yes. It connects people. It takes them back in time or. Yeah. It's surprising what wine can do. I know. It's so cool, isn't it? All right, well, let's now walk along the journey of you, you know, falling in love with wine to then becoming a French wine scholar and now taking over ownership of Princess and Bear wines in Seattle. Can you. I know it's like, that's a lot, but take us through the highlights of getting there. Yeah. So Carol and Steve, Carol Bailey and Steve Medwell. They are the founders of the Princess and the Bear. And I've known them for a very long time. We were connected through their parents. I was actually a caregiver for both of their parents for many years before the business. When Carol and Steve retired, they wanted a home in a sunny place. And Carol chose the south of France to be close to traveling everywhere in Europe. And after being a lawyer for 40 years and living and working in Seattle, of course you desire a sunny place. I mean, it makes total sense. So they had no intention of starting a new project, but they fell in love with the culture there and the food and the people and the wine. So inexpensive, delicious, authentic. So they decided that they had to share their discovery with friends and family back in Seattle. And I don't know if I mentioned it, but this was about eight years ago when they purchased this home in south of France and they invited me to join this adventure. And that's when I went to school to learn more about wine and eventually became a French wine Scholar in 2017. Princess and Bear started in 2019. And now that Carol and Steve are ready, really ready to retire this time, they are not kidding, I hope. My business partner, Hayden Grace Lazari and I are taking over their legacy. Wow. I can't believe that, like, the way you got into this was them basically being like, hey, do you want to join? Like, join us on this crazy adventure? You're like, yeah, let's do it. And we all admitted it's quite crazy and adventurous. They. They wanted to retire there, so they moved there and sort these wines from very small, artisanal style domains, from Languedoc and Roussillon, from organic, biodynamic, sustainable agriculture, vineyards and domains. Most of the domains are run by lady winemakers, which we love. Which we love. That just happened to be. It was a discovery they made in a couple of years that. Check this out. The people that were actually getting most of the wine are lady winemakers. Right? Because they were just seeking good wines. And then it just so happened. Of course it happened. They were being made by women winemakers. Yes, yes, yes, yes. I love it. Just a quick reminder, if you are not on my mailing list yet, what are you waiting for? I would love for you to join. When you do, you'll get a free. Shopping guide that has 15 of my favorite wines under $15. Head to corkandfizz.com, scroll down to the bottom, and there'll be a little section where you can join the mailing list. I send out a weekly newsletter filled with wine tips, recommendations, special offers, and so much more. Now, let's get back to the show. Okay, well, let's talk about the regions a little bit more. Regions. Yeah. So Languedoc, Roussillon. I think we kind of have an idea of why it basically sounds like Carolyn and Steve, like, they ended up there so that they wanted to share it. What makes these regions so unique? I feel like a lot of people have never heard of these regions. They think of French wine. They think Burgundy, Bordeaux, but Languedoc, Roussillon, what. What are these regions? What makes them so special? Yeah. So what makes Languedoc and Roussillon region so special is that it's still authentic and somehow undiscovered. The wines are made by real people. We call our wines Root to Sip. From the root to the sip. One person is taking care of the planting, tending the vines, harvesting, of course, held by other people, and then fermenting, making the wine, selling it. So it's one person. Small quantities from family vineyards, organic, biodynamic, as I said, and made with very, very little intervention, keeping the wines close to their natural path. And there is a freedom in winemaking here and the sense of creativity that it's super inspiring for winemakers. It's also one of the most historic wine regions in the world. The Greeks first planted vines here in the 5th century near where now Narbonne is. And Narbonne. I need to mention the city narbonne because it's 15 minutes away from where Carol and Steve live right now. So after the Greeks, the Romans came along, they fell in love with the land. They expanded the vineyards. They even built great roads to be able to transport wines and to travel in the region, like Via Domizia, that was connecting Italy and Spain through the south of France via Aquitania, linking Bordeaux to the Mediterranean. So when you drink wine from Languedoc Nerussion, you are tasting over 2000 years of winemaking history, you know? Yeah, yeah. And it's cool. And like you said, it kind of like it has this long history, and it's a region that hasn't. It hasn't let go of that history either, or that history hasn't gotten lost. Like, it's Very authentic and traditional still to those historic roots. Yes, yes. And the size of it, the scale of Languedoc, it's quite incredible. You know, is the largest wine producing region in France and one of the largest in the world. Also the region in France where most of the organic wine comes from. Interesting. Yes. Every third bottle of wine in France comes from Languedoc. Is that because I know like the region, you know, it is a large region and they made, they used to make a lot of bulk wine. Do you still see that coming out of that region or has it kind of changed? That has, yes. It's true. It was called the wine lake of Europe, but that is slightly change, changing. And in the, in the 80s, starting in the 80s, this renaissance in the winemaking started. They used to have all these bulk wines in a Languedoc that were beefed up with wine from Algeria because the yields in lock dock at one point were so high due to some subsidies that the government grade to agriculture. Everyone was planting vines and everyone made wine. That's how the co ops came together. And nobody was interested in quality but quantity. Right. So in the 80s, a real renaissance began. Young, passionate winemakers started focusing on quality, on terroir and on a lot of expression. They knew that the terroir of Languedoc and Roussillon had a lot of quality and they took advantage of the region's freedom. The region is now known as the wild west of France for winemakers because there's room for creativity. Right. They're not tied to as many rules. Right. As many of the other wine regions west of France. So much diversity due to the terroir Long Doc and Roussillon lies in. And all the climatic influence, the strong winds that are coming from the Atlantic drying the vineyards, the same, same effect as the Mistral Mistral wind coming from Rhone Valley. They are drying the vineyards and the organic agriculture is easy to produce. They are drying everything and there is no need to spray for mildew. So it's a natural dry effect for the vineyards. That's how the organic production is so high in Languedoc. That makes sense. Okay, so we're also thinking, talking a little bit more about the terroir and the climate. I'm thinking since it's right along the Mediterranean, probably a warmer, warmer region for the most part. But can you dive into a little bit more about what kind of climates in terroir make up the wine region? Or so there is, it's bordering Spain. To the south is bordering the Mediterranean. Sea. It's actually nested between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. It has Provence to the east and a hot Mediterranean climate with mild, mild winters and mild falls. So that's ideal for grapes and for the Mediterranean grapes in particular. And as I mentioned, the winds are helping a lot, and so are the mountain ranges that are nesting this region. The cool nights coming from the mountains help the grapes preserve their freshness during the night especially. So the grapes are happily. Are very happily building strength and aromatics during the day and then being refreshed during the night. So that's something special for. For Mediterranean grapes to have with that. These wines will never be flabby. They will be fresh. And due to depending on where they are in Languedoc, mineral or filled with aromatics or, you know, the terroir is so diverse, and there are so many little regions in a Languedoc and so many appellations that have specifics and characteristics. It's a fun place to choose wine from because there are so many another the Mediterranean part, the mountain part, the coastal wines, the wines from the hillsides, all kinds, whites, reds, sweet wines. And of course, not the last one, the sparkling wine that comes from Limu. Limu being the region where the sparkling was discovered in 1521, 21 by benediction monks. Right. It was not Champagne where sparkling wine originated. It was here in southern France, and. It was about 150 years before Dom Perignon came up with the blend for Champagne. So the Cremens in Limou are absolutely amazing. And we carry three of them in our tasting room. These are the Cremens that have our private label. We carry a blanket, a sparkling rose and a sparkling brut. The Blanquette is also the emblematic wine for Limou is a blend of 90% Mosac and 10% Chardonnay. 12 months in the bottle for the second fermentation. And it's such a beauty, right? It's so beautiful. And it's not like 50 plus dollars, like you'd like to find any good Champagne, which is something that I think is so Wonderful. It's actually 31.99. Much more affordable and good for celebrating. Yes, celebrating pretty much anything. No, I love it. And so we're talking a little bit about the wines, and I'm curious. One of the questions I have was, you know, what kind of wines can people find in these regions? And obviously it's any style. But then I'm curious, like diving into the whites and reds. Is there a specific way you would describe the wines coming out of here or is it like pretty much everything? Like can we find bright acidic whites and then full bodied rich whites and then on the red side, is it everything from, you know, lighter bodied, you know, fruity reds to really rich oaked reds? Like, is there a way you describe them or is it more kind of the latter where it's like you can find just about anything. I love producing this podcast for you every week, but here's the truth. It's not free. That's why I'm so grateful for sponsors like the following brands supporting me so that I can share everything I love about wine with you. If you're able, show them some support back. I'll be honest, I never really believed chocolate could pair well with wine until I partnered with Bon Chocolates for a local event. Rasha, the owner, created four incredible truffles that matched perfectly with the wines we were tasting. Bon Chocolates is a European inspired chocolatier right here in the Seattle area. Making beautiful bonbons and confections with fine chocolate in all natural ingredients. They make the perfect gift. Visit their local shop in Bothel or order online at bonchocolatz.com and use code corkandfiz10 for 10% off. The short and easy answer is yes. Everything you said, it depends on what you're looking for and where you're looking for it. Yes, the whites are all the whites and the reds are diverse, but especially the whites are absolutely fascinating. How fresh and how crisp they are. And most of these whites that are so crisp and fresh, they come from limestone terroirs and for example, I'll just start with a few examples from our tasting room. The pig pool. The Pickpool grape that is indigenous to the Mediterranean and to a long dock off the shore of the Mediterranean has this amazing freshness, is crisp and mineral and it has the salinity that is the influence of the sea breezes that are right off of the Mediterranean. Our Pickpool comes from a domain that is organic and biodynamic, made by a lady winemaker, very young, creative and coming from three generations of winemakers. So Pickpool for their domain is the emblem. And not only that, they make a very crisp and fresh pickpole in the well known Neptune bottle that has the waves of the Mediterranean Sea on the neck. They also make a big bowl that is aged in concrete. It still keeps that freshness and the minerality, but the mouth feel is more generous and long and inviting to more and more oysters. So this is a special terror next to the Mediterranean right There is a domain Alegria, that we import from. This is a domain run by a couple who have five kids that help in the vineyard. And their domain lies at the foothills of an extinct volcano, Volcan du Bombe, close to Pezenas. And this extinct volcano give the vineyards the freshness and the minerality that the wine needs. I know from talking to them that while they were digging their cellar, they found this very thick, one meter and a half thick l layer of fossils in the earth. So the fossils, the limestone, are present even if you are not close to the. To the shore of the Mediterranean, but more inland. Yeah. So again, the terrar is what will make this wine special. And then the climate helps and the winemaker's hands. So there is a wine that we carry from them. It's Marsan Roussan, and it has this amazing freshness and length. I also want to mention Bourbouleng grape that grows so well on La Clape. La Clape is a region in Languedoc off the shore of the Mediterranean that was once a Roman island and now linked to the land. It was a port neck of Narbonne. The limestone in this area will give the wines again, everything they need to keep them fresh and aromatic. And with the. With the perfect balance and minerality. So slightly saline is what these whites are, which will bring more freshness to the acidity that they already carry. I think that's so fascinating because like you said, it's a hot region. I mean, it's Mediterranean climate, but they have all of these influence that allow it to stay super fresh and acidic. And like you said, not going overly flabby like some warmer regions can tend to do. Yes, the winds help, then the sea will help a lot. The mountains are nesting the vines when they need it. So many white grapes. Vermentino. I don't want to forget about Vermentino. That is absolutely fascinating. Also, the continental grapes are present. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay make amazing wines. And we can find Chardonnay very, very high up in the mountains. There is a domain that we import from. It's called Domain Bonaugur. They are at almost 2,000ft elevation where they grow Chardonnay and they make a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Petite Manseng. And it's an incredible wine. I don't even know. Don't have enough wine knowledge and words to describe this wine, because it's just an wow. An amazing wow. A complexity of everything you ever wanted to experience in A Chardonnay, but probably didn't have. Didn't have the right Chardonnay on hand. Yes. I feel like that's like, that's a special version of Chardonnay. It's not what. You know, I think a lot of listeners have an idea in their heads of what Chardonnay is, but it can be amazing in the right hands. Amazing. A very nice complexity with herbal influences and salinity. And, yes, I love it. Okay, well, I want to get to the reds and more wines, but first, I want to talk a little bit about trying new wines, because I think anybody who's listening to this. Well, not anybody, but a lot of folks who are listening have never tried wine from this region. And so I'm curious, from your point of view, as somebody who's tried a lot of these new wines and really champions them, why do you think it's so important for wine lovers to step outside of their comfort zone and try these new wines that they may have never heard of before? Always to expand your palate and always to delight yourself with authenticity. And, you know, it's amazing to be creative and not be stuck in what you have already know, although it's super comfortable. But stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit and trying new things will probably make you love these wines and the stories behind them more and more. Yeah, I totally agree. And I think, especially if you have the opportunity to try them in a tasting room. Right. So I think, you know, this is a great way to highlight. So for folks who want to try a lot of these wines that we're mentioning, for them to do these and to try these wines, they have a few options. And I know there's ones for local folks here in Seattle and ones that are not local. So we'll start with the non local. You guys do have an online bottle shop, right? So they can purchase many of these wines online or join the wine club to try a lot of the new wines. But for those that are local, a great way to taste and try new wines is to visit the tasting room, because in that way, you get to try a little bit before you purchase the whole bottle. So you guys have a tasting room down in South Park. It is super cute, so fun. And you guys are always hosting really great events down there as well. So I just wanted to highlight that for folks listening to go check that out. But now we have to go back to red wines. Tell me a little bit about. So in my mind, I think of Languedoc and Roussillon as, like, Somewhat like bigger, bolder red wines. Is that right to kind of put those two together, or do you find a little bit of that and lighter wines? Most of the red wines that you will find and discover in Languedoc will be big wines. Big wines with a lot of complexity, with nice spices. There are some. There are some. For example, there is a Syrah that's coming from the same winemaker that makes the picpull that I mentioned. It's 100% Syrah, and in a blind tasting would be very, very hard to identify that it's 100% Syrah. It's thin, it's juicy, it's easy drinking. It has fresh fruit flavors, is vinified in stainless steel. It's a super, super friendly red wine. But the wines that now Languedoc is very proud of are reds that can compete with reds in Rhone Valley or coming from other prestigious regions in the Languedoc. Big Syrah blends of Vedre Syrah, Grenache Noir. It's very big in Languedoc. There's plenty of Cinsaults that can be vinified as a single variety or included in blends. And again, according to the soil, the terroir that this grape will come from will have different characteristics. Definitely. I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Cork and Fizz Guide to Wine podcast. You can learn more about Princess and Bear wines in the region of Languedoc and Roussillon by visiting their website at the Princess and the bear.com you can shop their online store or join their wine club. If shopping online, be sure to use code bonjour. Yes, that is just the French hello. To get 10% off your purchase. And if you're local or planning to visit Seattle in the next couple of months, when this episode goes out of the year 2026, you can get a free tasting in their tasting room. Just mention that you came from Cork and Fizz and make a reservation online. Call them or send them a message@infotheprincessandthebear.com if you loved this episode as much as I did, you know what to do. If you have not yet, just take a quick, quick, quick, quick, quick second. Rate it. Leave a review, let me know what you think. And if you know a wine lover in your life who's not listening to this podcast, please share it with them. And next week episode, you'll hear part two of my interview with Ioana where we talk about the wines she thinks best represents the Languedoc and Roussillon regions, some of her favorite wineries in the region and the amazing people behind them. Plus an opportunity for you to join her on a wine lover's dream trip to the south of France. And yes, this trip is on my bucket list. And of course, so much more. Thanks again for listening. And if you want to learn more about wine, come follow me at Cork and Fizz on Instagram. Cheers.