Ep 280: Provence, France

Provence, France is a multifaceted wine region. Although it makes mainly rosé, there is much to explore here. To start, not all of that rosé is created equal. And there are whites and reds you may not be aware of, that are just stunning. This podcast is a surprising, dorky, deep look at this beautiful wine region.

Photo: Unsplash

Climate and terroir

Between Mediterranean and the Alps – southeastern corner of France, covers coastline No vineyard is more than 25 miles from the Mediterranean Provence is the only French wine region outside of Bordeaux with classified estates Climate: Low humidity, Mediterranean climate – sea is its southern border: sunny, dry and warm. Can get overripe grapes b/c of sunshine. Winds prevalent – including the Mistral Land: Soil poor, very varied -- limestone, calcareous, volcanic Mountains: Sainte-Victoire Mountain, Sainte-Baume Mountains, Massif des Maures

Photo: "Le Jour ni l'Heure 2792 : couvent bénédictin, puis dominicain, de la Sainte-Baume, grotte de sainte Madeleine, Plan-d'Aups, Var, Provence, dimanche 8 mai 2011, 19:22:39" by Renaud Camus is licensed under CC BY 2.0

 

Blends, not varietal wines:

Reds: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tibouren, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon Whites: Rolle/Vermentino, Ugni Blanc/Trebbiano, Sémillon, Clairette,Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc

 

Provence rosé appellations

Côtes de Provence Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Coteaux Varois en Provence.

 Map: Vins de Provence

Côtes de Provence: 90% Rosé, 6.5% red, 3.5% white

Largest appellation in Provence Center to the eastern borders of Provence – eastern portion of Provence in included Nearly 75% of all the wine production in Provence 90% of production is rosé Quality of sites varies wildly, as does the wine quality 4 subregions Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire: Red and rosé (largest, most common)
Côtes de Provence Fréjus: 75% rosé, the rest is red Côtes de Provence La Londe: 75% Rosé, 25% red Côtes de Provence Pierrefeu: Cool climate rosé 

 

Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence: 82.5% Rosé, 5.5% White, 12% Red

2nd largest area with various soil types High acid, light rosé Les Baux de Provence: (baou=rocky spur in Provence dialect) is within Aix Tiny hilltop village, mainly organic viticulture – 85% of the farmers do organic or biodynamic Makes red and roses (only 25% is rose) of GSM

 

Coteaux Varois en Provence: 85% Rosé, with red and white 

Western 1/3 of Provence central region of Provence, "calcareous Provence" – gravel, flint, limestone, calcareous soils in narrow valleys High altitude, small area  

Photo: Pixabay

Bandol: Nearly 70% is red wine with rosé, small amt of white  Bandol is most famous for its red wines, Mourvèdre is at least 50% of the blend, though most producers will use significantly more Whites: Clairette – 50-90% of Bandol Blanc with Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc, Marsanne, Rolle, Sauv Blanc, Semillon 

Photo: Mourvèdre Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0  via Wikimedia Commons

Bellet: Equal amounts of white, red, rosé  Near Nice in hills of N, E, W on terraces – very steep, some single vineyard sites Mostly consumed by tourists in Nice

 

Palette: Red, white, rosé made east of Aix-en-Provence in hills

Chateau Simone owns half the vineyards here – Ch Cremade, Ch Henri Bonnaud, Ch de Meyreuil and La Badiane make the rest

 

Coteaux de Pierrevert: Cool climate red, white and rosé wines are mainly made from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsaut, Clairette and Rolle 

Cassis Wine: White is 75% of production, with red and rosé Full-bodied, lower acid, herbal whites. Clairette, Marsanne, Bourboulenc, Pascal, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and red from Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache

  

Photo: Pixabay

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Podcasts referenced:

Ep 160: The Rosé Story with Ian Renwick

Ep 227: Derek Van Dam, CNN Weatherman on Weather and Wine

Ep 277: Bordeaux -- An Insider View with Serge Doré