The appellation is located in the southwest of the French winegrowing region Languedoc. To the north lies the AOC Terrasses du Larzac, to the southeast the AOC Corbières. It was classified as an AOC in 2015 and belongs to the highest quality category "Crus du Languedoc". In ancient times, La Clape was an island off the Roman port of Narbo (Narbonne) on the Mediterranean coast, today it is the name for a mountain massif. In the Occitan language used here in the Middle Ages, La Clape means "heap of stones". The vineyards cover around a thousand hectares of vines at 200 metres above sea level on varied soils of limestone, marl and reddish sandstone containing iron oxide. They extend for 17 kilometres in length and seven kilometres in width over the five municipalities of Armissan, Fleury, Salles-d'Aude, Vinassan and Narbonne in the département of Aude.
The red wine, 80% of which is produced, is blended from the three main varieties Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Mourvèdre (Monastrell) and Syrah, as well as Carignan Noir (Mazuelo) and Cinsault (Cinsaut). The white wine is produced from at least 60% Bourboulenc (optimal soil type), as well as Clairette, Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca), Piquepoul Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Rolle (Vermentino), Terret Blanc and Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano). Well-known producers are Château de Complazens, Château de l'Hospitalet, Château Mire L'Etang, Château Moujan, Château Pech-Céleyran, Château Pech Redon, Domaine de la Rivière-le-Haut, Château de Ricardelle de la Clape, Domaine Sarrat de Goundy and Domaine de Terre Megre.
