The Wines of Provence
Up to 80% of the wine from Provence is rosé.
Increasingly well-made, sufficiently dry and fruity but aromatic enough
to be the perfect foil for the region's cuisine, full of garlic and
olive oil.
Cote de Provence is
a wide area covering the cote d'Azur
from Marseille to Nice. It is
named because it was the first Roman province outside Italy.
However it was probably the Greek Phoceans who introduced wine in 600 BC, roughly 480 years before the Romans arrived. Interestingly, when the Romans did arrive they banned the growing of vines
because of the competition to their own Italian wines! Soils, grapes
and techniques may differ in the making
of the wines but the common aspect is
the glorious sunshine.
They are perfect summer wines - alone or with salads,
barbecues and Mediteranean cuisine. Grape varieties include Grenache,
Cinsaut, Syrah (red) and the white Rolle (known elsewhere as Vermentino).
From Arles to Nice, Provence is a beautiful stretch of tourist and seaside attractions and idyllic landscapes surrounded by sun-drenched vineyards.
Art, history, geography and culture can be found around every corner, and not just during the big festivals throughout the summer.
Although Provence is known for its fields of lavender and is the top rosé producer, it also turns out lesser known whites and reds that are gradually gaining notoriety.
With new appellations and wines that cannot be found outside the region itself, there are still many great finds in Provence. In this sun-drenched, dry region, grapes are one of the only crops that can be grown.
Climate
Provence is known for its intensely blue skies, and it is no accident that Van Gogh, Cézanne, Matisse and Picasso loved staying here.
However, the Mistral winds that blow 150 days per year have more than artistic merit. They dry the air, keeping the grapevines healthy and disease-free, and sweep away the clouds, leaving the sun to shine 3000 hours per year, a record for France.
However, there are geographic variations within this Mediterranean climate. Inland, the weather becomes less balmy, with cool nights, especially at higher elevations. On the coast, the sun shines more strongly, which is ideal for grape varieties such as Mourvèdre.
This climate is as perfect as they come.
Lands
Provence’s vineyards stretch from the Southern Alps to the Mediterranean and from Marseille to Italy and cover a wide variety of terroirs.
Whether it be terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea or the isolated Haut Var, the crumbling rock affords the wines delicacy and character.
There is more limestone in the western part of the region, near Aix, Cassis and Bandol. In the west, the soils consist of shale and sandstone from the nearby Alps.
The grape varieties adjust to each individual microclimate and are blended to produce a huge array of whites, reds and rosés.
With Food
Mediterranean cuisine, based on vegetables, fresh herbs, fish and olive oils also incorporates lamb from the Southern Alps and North African influences.
This aromatic and spicy food pairs perfectly with the local wines, and has done so for over 2,600 years.
|
