Ep 280: Provence, France

Jun 10, 2019

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.

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

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.

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

Bandol Wine: 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

Bellet Wine: 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

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