Provence - Wines & Regions

Climate:
- Mediterranean, with an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine annually.
- Rainfall concentrated in spring & autumn
- Mild winters, but allow full vine dormancy

Topography:
- Proximity to the sea & careful vineyard sitting on southern expositions

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Red Grapes:

1) Syrah
- Full-bodied, perfumed, age-worthy
- Endowing Grenache with life expectancy
2) Mourvedre
- Deep-coloured, powerfully flavoured, opague colour & intense licorice
- Intense fruit, perfume often redolent of blackcherries
3) Carignan
- Tannic, rustic, robust deep colour, simple red berry
- High in everything: Acidity, tannins, colour, bitterness
4) Grenache
- Juicy, high alcohol, cherry & pepper-flavoured
5) Cinsault
- Light, soft, perfumed, Spicy, Pale-coloured
6) Cabernet Sauvignon
- Full-bodied, deep-coloured, blackcurrant


White Grapes:
1) Grenache Blanc
- Dull, slightly peppery, spicy
2) Vermentino
- Dry, spicy
3) Bourboulenc
- Fine, acidic, hint of smoke
4) Semillon
- Wax, honey, orange marmalade, burnt toast, fat
5) Ugni Blanc
- Bland, high acidity
6) Chardonnay
- Versatile, flavoursome
7) Clairette
- Dull, flabby, alcoholic – maderize easily



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Principal Viticultural Hazards:
- Wind ~ Mistral

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AOC’s:

1) Bellet
- The cool hill sites are su8ited to the production of fresh, aromatic whites mainly from Vermentino

2) Côtes de Provence
- 80% of production is rosé
- 20,000ha under vine
- Rosé is made mainly from Cinsault & Grenache

3) Coteaux Varois
- Inland away from the coast & all at a higher, cooler altitude
- Wine style: A little more intense

4) Bandol
- Most serious appellation in Provence
- Rosé provides the volume
- Red that arouse interest
- Style: Steely, tannic, with a herbal nuance & good ageing potential
- Elevation up to 1,300 ft
- 3,000 hours of sunshine ripening the grape
- Sea breezes temper the heat
- Condition ideal for Mourvèdre ~ 50% of the blend for red
- Wine has to be aged in cask for a min 18 months

5) Cassis
- Producing mainly white wines
- Style: Fresh, but low in acidity
- Demand locally

6) Palette
- Distinctive limestone soil called calcaire de Langesse
- Red, White & Rosé – benefit from bottle age
- Style: Firm, minerally whites; long-lived reds

7) Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
- Rosé ~ mainstay: 55%
- Red ~ 44%
- White ~ 6%
- A diverse range of grapes is permitted
- Style: Fresh, sound rosés with a certain depth & intensity

8) Les Baux de Provence
- AOC for reds & rosé
- Whites still labelled as Coteauz d’Aix en Provence
- Vineyards located at the foothills of the Alpilles Mountains
- Cabernet Sauvignon ~ max 20%
- Style: fruity reds with a little tannic grip