Château de Berne, red wines from Provence.
Our wine estate produces red, rosé and white AOP Côtes de Provence. The property occupies 175 hectares on the Triassic plateau composed of limestone soil from the Middle and Lower Jurassic. Our great reds are aged in our aging cellar with arcades and lit by a stained glass window.
Frequently asked questions about our Provence red wine:
What does the Côtes de Provence appellation mean?
Côtes de Provence is an appellation with the double French AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) and European AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) label. The wines are produced in the Provence-Corsica wine region in the southeast. Its terroir benefits from a Provençal Mediterranean climate and soils composed of limestone, schist, granite, phylladies, sandstone, marl and alluvial sand.
Red Côtes de Provence wines offer different colors depending on the grape varieties and their origins, a deep garnet color complemented by mauve highlights. The nose is distinctive, fine and complex, mainly with notes of red fruits such as strawberry, redcurrant and raspberry. The second nose regularly reveals animal notes, leather and venison. On the palate side, it is either light or powerful. It offers a generous and ample body as well as robust tannins.
Is Côtes de Provence red a good wine to give as a gift?
The answer is definitely yes, Côtes de Provence red is one of the best wines on offer. In the regions of Provence, you find elegant and very good quality wines at low prices. Gift idea for a birthday, for Christmas, for retirement or even simply for the pleasure of giving, with red wine from Provence, you are sure to please. In the AOP Côtes de Provence wine region, the richness of the terroir makes it easy to find wines for all tastes, and at the best price.
What are the characteristics of your vintages?
Château de Berne red 2019 :
The Grande Cuvée is made from old vines grown at low yields. A blend of Syrah and Cabernet-Sauvignon, it offers a pretty dark garnet red color with purple reflections. A very expressive nose with aromas of ripe black fruits, spices and florals. On the palate, the attack is fresh and light, supported by velvety and melted tannins, with aromas of black fruits.
Great Red Harvest 2018 :
The Berne Grande Récolte is the flagship vintage of the house. A blend of Syrah, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Grenache noir, its garnet color is brilliant with purple reflections. On the nose, it reveals notes of black fruits, Ente plums, liquorice and pepper. On the palate, the attack is supple, the tannins are initially melted with a spicier finish.
Bern Red Inspiration 2016 :
Blend of Syrah, Cabernet-Sauvignon and Carignan. The eye is seduced by a beautiful cherry red color. The nose is expressive, revealing notes of red fruits mixed with spices, a light powdery and elegant woodiness. The palate is quite structured, with a supple and fresh attack, offering a smooth roundness and a fresher and longer finish.
Terres de Berne rouge 2019 :
A blend of Syrah and Cabernet-Sauvignon, its color is deep red with garnet reflections. It offers a nose of black fruits with spicy notes enhanced with a hint of menthol. On the palate, the attack is supple and round with persistent fruity aromas. The finish is fruity with a touch of liquorice.
Saint-Roux le Pigeonnier Rouge 2016 :
A blend of Grenache noir, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, it reveals a very beautiful crimson color. The nose is open, with red and stewed fruits, with a hint of pepper and liquorice, with discreet notes of roasting and woody spices. On the palate, the round and ample attack reveals a wine of beautiful structure and harmoniousness.
UP Ultimate Provence red 2019 :
A blend of Syrah and Cabernet-Sauvignon, its color is carmine red with purple reflections. Modern and generous, it offers notes of red fruits and spices. When tasting, this wine combines notes of ripe red fruits with those of warm spices. It is made of a very beautiful and persistent structure.
How to taste red wine?
First, to taste a wine, you should know that an amateur only needs one or two sips. The first step is the eye. Indeed, the appearance of the wine, namely its color and appearance, already gives indications about the nature and quality of a wine.
The second step is the nose. First the first nose, that is to say smelling the wine without moving it, to notice if it is closed, discreet or open. If it is closed, it can be decanted to open it. Then comes the second nose, after having swirled it, smell it to appreciate the aromas.
The third step is the mouth. There are two techniques for tasting a wine, chewing or gnawing. Chew it for a few seconds like food, the saliva will mix with the wine and bring out its texture and structure. Grumer means letting air in by sucking in through the mouth in order to more easily recognize flavors and aromas.
Finally, the fourth step: summarizing your impressions. I liked this wine or not, use retro-olfaction to perceive the different aromas of the wine, are they pleasant, powerful... how is its length in the mouth, the intensity of its aromatic persistence... And as a general rule, more a wine is long in the mouth, the better it is.
What is the difference between organic and non-organic red wine?
● Definition of a conventional wine: wine whose cultivation and vinification do not respect the principles of organic or biodynamic farming. Synthetic chemicals and oenological inputs are authorized.
● Products authorized for the cultivation of conventional wine: all synthetic chemicals authorized in agriculture such as insecticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, etc.
● Quantity of sulphites authorized for conventional wine: a red can contain up to 150 mg/l total SO2 (sulphites). A white or rosé can contain up to 200 mg/l total SO2 (sulphites).
● What is an organic wine : it is a wine resulting from agriculture and winemaking without synthetic chemicals. The main AB and Bio Europe labels are the means of guaranteeing this approach.
● Products authorized for growing organic wine vines: it is possible to use chemicals of natural origin, however, certain synthetic products are an exception, notably calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) , paraffin oil (from petroleum) and copper compounds (copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, cuprous oxide, Bordeaux mixture and tribasic copper sulfate).
● Quantity of sulphites authorized for organic wine: a red can contain up to 100 mg/l total SO2 (sulphites). A white wine or rosé can contain up to 150 mg/l total SO2 (sulphites).
What grape varieties are used?
Syrah Noir, originating from France (Rhône), Grenache Noir, originating from Spain, Cinsault originating from France (Provence), Cabernet-Sauvignon originating from France (Bordeaux), Carignan originating from Spain and Mourvèdre originating from Spain.
How are the grapes for a Côtes de Provence red grown?
The vine, like many plants, follows the cycle of the seasons: in March/April, bud burst, the buds begin to develop, the vine wakes up. Then comes, in May/June, flowering where small flowers appear and already have the shape of future bunches of grapes. This is the time for trimming, topping and disbudding, in other words the removal of unnecessary branches. In July, it is the time of fruit set, the grape berries are born in the fertilized flowers, in August veraison, time when the grapes grow, ripen and take on their red color and become less acidic, enriched with sugars and aromas. This maturation will last until the harvest.
What sulphites are used?
Generally, these are sulfites or sulfur, otherwise known as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, or even sulfiting agents.
What food and red wine pairings do you recommend?
The red wine of Provence generally goes well with grilled meats, cold meats, traditional dishes from Provence such as headless larks and all fresh pastas in tomato coulis, a rib of beef grilled on vine shoots, stews and stews and, will pleasantly surprise with Asian flavors. Without forgetting cheeses like Saint-Nectaire, Rocamadour, Fourme or even Salers.
Are your red wines environmentally friendly?
Since February 2021, the 175 hectares of Château de Berne have been certified in organic farming. This approach is part of our commitment to protecting generous nature, just like the people who cultivate it. The estate has also been certified High Environmental Value (HVE) level 3 for many years to respond to the needs expressed during the Grenelle Environment Forum on the economic, environmental and social aspects of an agricultural operation. The wines are also made in this spirit that respects nature and people.
Does red wine contain preservatives?
The purpose of adding sulphites to wine is to counter the harmful effects of oxygen on the wine to prevent it from turning into “vinegar”. Sulfites are an antioxidant limiting the oxidation process of wine and an antiseptic fighting against yeasts and bacteria present in wine, thus making it possible to maintain a balance of the microbial flora of wine, conducive to better conservation.
How long can Provence red wine be kept?
In the southern regions, notably Provence, the tannins are often marked and the acidities are sometimes lower. The materials are often rich, dense and fleshy. On beautiful terroirs, maritime proximity and granite, schist or limestone soil, the red wines of Provence can offer significant aging times, often beyond 10 years.
What are the best vintages of Côtes de Provence red?
The region, the Château or the grape variety are not enough to determine the quality of a vintage. It is also determined by the quality of the grapes, influenced by the weather conditions of the season, exposure to the sun, temperature and the work of the winemaker. That said, the best years for red Provence wines in the last twenty years are: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2003.
