PROVENCE, Wine France

As the centuries went by Greeks, Celts and Romans contributed to develop different forms of civilisation in this privileged land in the South of France, which is nowadays called Provence. What has never changed is the decor made up of olives trees, maritime pine trees, maquis and guarrige stroked by the deep blue sea and lying lazily in the sun.

The mildness of the climate led the Greeks of Massilia (Marseille) to introduce the planting of grapes in the 3th century B.C., because of the weather that remains constantly dry and cold in winter while the summer heat always insures highly concentrated crops. Culture in terraces has therefore modelled the uneven landscape. 

This land was blessed by Creation : painters and poets celebrated it. The Provence of Césanne is a limestone spine that boasts an intensely bright colour. Being from Provence means to be easily identified by a singing accent and an extravagant expression of emotions. The character of the region also lies in its wines that feature perfectly the poetry of Mistral praising the extraordinary of nature.

Streching over 3 french departments the vineyards of the Vins de Provence run along  side the Mediterranean from Nice to Marseille up to Aix-en-Provence. The Côtes de Provence wine-area is the largest French wine growing region with its 19000 hectares. There is not one Côtes de Provence but many. The Côteaux Varois for example are produced in the Center of the department of the Var. The vineyards clung to the sunny hillsides with vines planted in terraced rows in sandy and clayey soil. The conditions are ideal for the rapid development of wine growing. The limestone hills North of the AOC, are rich in iron and produce strong bodied and well structured red wines. The careful attention to the wine vinification and ageing disclose fruity bombs.

On the rocky Mediterranean coast west of Toulon, the vineyards of Bandol spread along the hillsides. The rosé of Bandol is aged a minimum of 8 months in wood (unique for a rosé), giving the wine an orange coloring. The red Bandol is made from Mourvèdre grape and is aged a minimum of 18 months in oaken foudres, producing a full, round, rich wine that is good for immediate consumption and ages well.

Rosé wines from Provence are usually dry and fruity and perfectly match the local way of cooking fish and vegetables. There are many different white wines produced in Provence : fresh and soft to the palate, they will go well with Mediterranean fish and seafood as well as with goat cheese. Some red wines are bright and fruity, others powerful and concentrated. Those are perfect with barbecues or strong cheese for instance.

SOUTHERN RHONE Wine - France

From Montélimar to Avignon, Southern Rhône Valley produces a wide variety of wines including AOC Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Local appellations of Crus and “Vins Doux Naturels”.

In southern Rhône, wines are made from a wider range of grape varieties than in northern: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre for the reds, and mainly Grenache, Clairette, Roussanne and Viognier for the whites. The juice from the different grapes is then blended in many ways to give a range of highly distinctive wines.

The different appellations of Southern Rhône

Côtes du Rhône red wines are light with a lively color. They are fruity, supples and pleasant to drink when young. Older wines are well structured, rich and strong with spicy black fruits aromas. White wines have a light color with flowers and fruity aromas. They are really well balanced in mouth. Rosé wines have cherry reflects and delicates red fruits aromas. They are very fresh wines.

Côtes du Rhône-Villages appellations (AOC) are spread over 95 administrative communes and only 16 entitled to mention their name on their wine’s label.

Red wines, whether broad and full-bodied are delicately elegant. Rosé and whites are remarkable and full of freshness.

Crus of Côtes du Rhône are produced in 5 places of southern Rhône:

Lirac red wine has a beautiful deep color with a fruity and spicy bouquet. It is four-square generous and balanced. Its Rosé wine is bright. This is an elegant wine with excellent persistence in the mouth. The white wine is lively, aromatic with excellent harmony of roundness and length.

Tavel produces a distinct and pure rosé with a complex bouquet of red fruits maturing towards roasted almonds. This wine is round in mouth with aromatic strength finishing with a spicy note when served chilled.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wines have an intense color with a complex bouquet of red fruits, aniseed, liquorice and spices. Reds are rounded and unctuous with a generous and supply body and are long in mouth. White wines offer fine floral nuances of narcissus. They give a feeling of balance and long lasting aromatic freshness at the finish.

Gigondas red wine has a sumptuous elegance and a bright body that seems to encapsulate the sunshine. This wine has a distinctive bouquet of fruit and kirsch when young followed by leaf-mould muskiness with maturity. It is very well balanced and strongly flavored and tannic.

Rosé wines offer almonds, red fruits and spices perfumes. They are heady and generous wines in mouth.

Vacqueyras red wine has a deep color and a sweet bouquet of ripe fruit, black cherries and a hint of liquorice. It is a full-bodied wine, round and robust which offers a delicious balance between the freshness of the fruit and the spices. Vacqueyras rosé is ample and generous while the white is exceptional for its freshness.

NORTHERN RHONE Wine France

From Vienne to Valence, Northern Rhône Valley produces AOC Côtes du Rhône and Crus. The Syrah variety is king of the red-wines grapes, while Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane are the preferred varieties for the white wines. Here are the appellations of Northern Rhône Valley:

Côte-du-Rhône red wines are light with a lively color. They are fruity, supples and pleasant to drink when young. Older wines are well structured, rich and strong with spicy black fruits aromas. White wines have a light color with flowers and fruity aromas. They are really well balanced in mouth. Rosé wines have cherry reflects and delicates red fruit aromas. They are very fresh wines.

Condrieu is an exotic and fragrant wine. It has a pale gold color with golden highlights. This wine has a powerful bouquet of field flowers, violets, iris and apricots. In the palate, it is supple, unctuous with an overall freshness and good length.

Cornas wines’ appearance is intense with ruby reflects. These wines have red fruits perfume with blackcurrant and spicy nuances. After 5 years it gets truffle, cooked fruits and liquorice bouquet. It is one of the most tannic and strong wines in France.

Côte Rôtie wines have a deep red color. Their nose is characterized by its raspberry and spicy perfume with a nuance of vanilla and almond. It is a very fleshy and rich wine. It has notes of truffle, dried fruits and chocolate in palate.

Crozes-Hermitage red wines have a sustained bright hue. They have a red fruits and spicy bouquet. They are well-structured, long on the palate, tannic but smooth. White wines are limpid and have a pale golden color. They have a floral perfume with hawthorn and acacia nuances.

Hermitage red wines have a deep bright color and offer a red fruits and wild flowers bouquet. When matured, they get leather nuances. The white wine has a limpid golden yellow color. Sweet “Vin de Paille” are quite rare and offer a nice smell of truffles when aged for 8 to 10 years. St-Joseph red wines have a deep color with their subtle perfume of blackcurrant and raspberry which take the nuance of leather and liquorice with age. White wines are limpid and yellow-green. They have wild acacia and honey bouquet. St-Péray offers a sparkling wine and a still wine. Sparkling wines have a yellow color with a bouquet of flowers and citrus fruits. This wine is refreshing, lively and dry. Still wines are pale gold with a fresh flowers perfume. It is light and lively to the palate.

ROUSSILLON AREA – Wine - France Roussillon in its history and climate is only slightly different from its Spanish neighbour. It offers Banyuls, Rivesaltes, Collioure and also Maury. These add their wonderful amber color to the local palette.Roussillon wines are classified under 6 appellations: 

A.O.C. Maury: Wine of Cathar country. Maury red wines can be aged for 20 years or more. They are composed at least for 75% from Grenache. 

A.O.C. Banyuls: A terroir located between mountains and sea.Banyuls vineyards are located on steep terraces of the Pyrenees which lead down to the Mediterranean. Over time, they develop aromas in sweet, medium sweet and dry wines. The main grape variety blended is Grenache noir. 

A.O.C. Collioure: A world-renowned terroir. Collioure vineyards are located between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees. Collioure wines are fleshy, warm, concentrated and high in tannins. 

A.O.C Côtes du Roussillon villages and Côtes du Roussillon villages Tautavel are great terroirs within a protected area. Its vineyards are located in the north of the Orientals Pyrenees. This wine’s blend is quite the same as for red Côtes du Roussillon but with additional specificities which are mainly the terroir and specific production methods. 

A.O.C. Côtes du Roussillon: An amazing advance in quality. Côtes du Roussillon vineyards are located between the Corbières and Pyrenees mountain. The wine production in 2002 was 68% of red wines, 28% rosé and 4% white wines. The traditional Roussillon varietals are complemented by aromatic ones that have been established more recently. Its vineyards occupy 4.800 hectares of very diverse soils and subsoil in terms of geology such as limestone, clay/limestone, schist, gneiss, granite or alluvial terraces. 

A.O.C. Rivesaltes: A very large and ancient appellation. It is the leading appellation for Vins Doux Naturels in terms of surface area. Production is very diverse. The Rivesaltes vineyards span across a range of very different soils such as granit, clay, schist or pebbles.  The appellation identifies four main types of Rivesaltes: Amber, Garnet-red, Tile-red and Hors d’âge which have been aged for at least five years after being made. Most of them are aged for a much longer period, which can be as long as 20 years. 

A.O.C. Muscat de Rivesaltes: exceptional nectar. It includes the Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes appellations. Muscat de Rivesaltes can be made from two varietals, Muscat d’Alexandrie which is responsible for the aromas of ripe fruits, and the sophisticated aroma of white flowers and Muscat à petits grains which provides aromas of exotic and citrus fruits. Muscat de Rivesaltes is bottled very early to preserve the fresh flavors. Muscat wines have aromas that evoke peach, lemon, mango and mint. If kept in a cellar for many years, their color then takes on amber hints and their aromas change towards notes of honey and crystallized apricot.