In 1936 Chateauneuf du Pape and Tavel was approved by INAO among the first appellations of France. The two appellations were established after several years of discussions among the local winegrowers lead by Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie, the owner of  Chateau Fortia in Chateauneuf du Pape. 
!n 1937 the appellation Côtes du Rhône was approved including wines from other communes in Rhone. Already in 1767 wines shipped from the harbour of Roquemaure were marked CDR to prove the size of the barrels and the authenticity of the wines.

The neighbours of the Tavel appellation also wanted to have an appellation of their own not only including rosé wine but also red and white wine. Lirac had their own "Baron le Roy", the owner of Chateau de Ségriès in Lirac, Comte Henri de Regis de Gatimel. He was the prime mover in shaping the new appellation. The Second World War stopped the creation of an appellation but as soon as the war ended it became a reality.
The local authorities in Uzès approved the rules 11^th October 1945.
The appellation was approved by INAO 14^th October 1947.

Production area

Vineyards from four communes are included in the appellation: 
Roquemaure, Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres, Saint-Genies-de-Comolas and Lirac

.

Commune		Area in km2	Altitude	Inh. 2015
Lirac		9,76	88 - 266	884
Roquemaure		26,22	20 - 176	5.464
Saint-Genies-de-Comolas		8,26	25 - 176	1.907
Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres		16,35	39 - 261	2.909

Rules for the appellation  Cahiers des Charges June 2015

Allowed grapes for white wine
Primary varieties: Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne.
Secondary varieties: Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Viognier.

Allowed grapes for red and rosé wine
Primary varieties: Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah.
Secondary varieties: Carignan, Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Gris, Marsanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Piquepoul Noir, Roussanne, Ugni Blanc, Viognier

Rules for percentages of grape varieties in the producer's vineyards

Lirac Rouge
Grenache Noir has to count for at least 40% of the plantation.
Mourvedre and/or Syrah has to count for at least 25% of the plantation.
The share of Carignan may not exceed 10% of the plantation.
The share of Clairette Rose, Counoise, Grenache Gris and Piquepoul Noir together may not exceed 10% of the plantation.
The share of white varieties may not exceed 5% of the plantation.

Lirac Rosé
Grenache Noir has to count for at least 40% of the plantation.
Mourvedre and/or Syrah has to count for at least 25% of the plantation.
The share of Carignan may not exceed 10% of the plantation.
The share of white varieties may not exceed 20% of the plantation.

Lirac Blanc
A single primary variety may not exceed 60% of the plantation.
A single secondayty variety may not exceed 25% of the plantation.
The share of secondary varieties may not exceed 30% of the plantation.

Declared area and yield 2016-2020

AOP Lirac Rouge, Rosé, Blanc - 2016 

Confrérie des Jaugeurs de Lirac

In 1997 the brotherhood of Lirac Confrérie des Jaugeurs de Lirac was created in connection with the 50th anniversary of the appellation. 
The name of the brotherhood refers to the jaugeurs or gauges who in the eighteenth century was to issue certificates of conformity for the barrels and their contents. The consul of Roquemaure officially swore in the Jaugeurs who oversaw the standardization of the permitted capacity.
Like other brotherhoods this one helps to promote the wines of the appellation, organization of parties, meals, tastings, inductions and any other means deemed useful by the great council.