Since antiquity, vineyards have extended to Provence as far as the eye can produce, and have produced wines that translate all the intensity of the terroir. From red wine to white wine, including the essential rosé wine, discover all the secrets of Provence wine.
The generosity and power of the Provençal vineyard
Between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, the Provence vineyard extends over 200 km, from west to east, on 3 departments: the Var, the Bouches-du-Rhône, and a tiny part of the Alpes-Maritimes. the Provencal terroir Provides with the vineyard everything you need to flourish, with the hot and sunny Mediterranean climate, with various soils of limestone, shale, will, or even clay.
Close to 27,000 hectares of vines are then entirely dedicated to the production of exceptional wines, and in particular rosé wine, which makes the reputation of the Provence wine region.
The names of Provence wines
The Provencal vineyards regroup 9 appellations, attributed for pink wines, red wines and white wines of the different winegrowers in the region.
The 3 flagship appellations of Provence
If Provence holds 9 appellations, 3 stand out particularly, and represent 96 % of the volume of AOC wines from Provence.
- L'AOC Côtes-de-Provence, with its names of the Côtes-de-Provence terroir Fréjus, Côtes-de-Provence Sainte-Victoire and Côtes-de-Provence La Londe: covering 20,000 hectares and 84 municipalities, this appellation offers expressive rosés with aromas of white fruits, citrus or flowers, fruity and spicy reds, and dry whites with citrus aromas;
- L'AOC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence : extent on more than 4,000 hectares and 47 municipalities, the appellation offers fruity, floral and flexible rosés, balanced and fruity reds, and floral and fruity whites;
- L'AOC Coteaux Varois-en-Provence : spread over 2,700 hectares and 28 municipalities, the appellation gives dry, fruity and spicy pink wines, structured and generous red wines, and delicate and fresh dry white wines.
The other appellations of Provence
To smaller ladders, 6 others appellations of Provence produce wines from the 3 colors:
- The AOC Bandol;
- AOC Bellet;
- The AOC Cassis;
- The AOC Coteaux de Pierrevert;
- Baux-de-Provence AOC;
- The AOC Palette.
The winegrowers of Provence
Each year, nearly 1.3 million hectoliters of wine are produced on Provence vineyards, whether in white wine (4 %), red wine (9 %), or rosé wine (87 %). These 174 million bottles of wine are the work of 600 producers, both special cellars (540) and cooperative cellars (60).
The production of rosé wine obviously stands out for other wines, making Provence the first viticultural region producing AOC rosé in France. Rosés de Provence thus represent 35 % of national production, and 5 % of world production.
The grape varieties of Provence wines
More than a dozen grape varieties are cultivated in Provence and take advantage of the wealth of the terroir to flourish and express themselves intensely. There are several main red grape varieties:
- Black grenache;
- Cinsault;
- Syrah;
- Carignan;
- Tibouren;
- Mourvèdre;
- The Cabernet-Sauvignon.
And among the main white grape varieties of Provence, we count:
- The white UGNI;
- The Rolle or Vermentino);
- Bourboulenc;
- La Clairette;
- The Sémillon;
- Sauvignon.
The Route des Vins de Provence
Driving the Wine Route is probably the most beautiful way of discovering Provence wines, and soaking up the wealth of the terroir. This is always an opportunity to discover new areas and go to meet small producers who will make you taste their most beautiful wines. Oenotourism is also an original form of tourism to discover the Provencal art of living, through a wine tasting, a cellar visit, or a stroll in the vineyard.
the Berne Castle You open the doors of its domain to make you discover what Provence has better. Taste exceptional Provence wines, and take the time to live to the rhythm of the vineyards and the sun.
