The Provence of all grape varieties

Bandol maybe is the most well-known appellation of the Provence. And if the public and the figures also count the rose wines (70% of the production of Bandol) you cannot deny the quality of its red wines enjoying a very good reputation.

Châteaux Pibarnon, Lafran-Veyrolles and Pradeaux, just to mention the “stars” of the red Bandol, have successfully tamed the Mourvèdre, a grape variety that can match with a fig’s sensuality when being intoxicated by sun…. On this arid lands, between the mistral and seawinds, the Mourvèdre is in its kingdom and to sublimate it you need lots of attention. They say “it needs to see the sea and to have its “feet” in the water…” Wild and capricious it does not always meet the expectations.

With 20,000 hectares and 120 million bottles the Côtes de Provence, an in 1977 created A.O.C. (Appellation d‘Origine Controlée = term of controlled origin), covers up a big part of the region. This appellation contains such a diversity of soils that the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine = National Institute of terms of origin) has started an organization into a hierarchy of its crus and created under-appellations (Côtes-de-provence-sainte-victoire, côtes-de-provence-fréjus…). It is so good that it is just impossible to speak about just one style of the Côtes-de-Provence.

Finally the Provence also is white, white at Château du Seuil, at Domaine des Béates or in Pibarnon, in Gavaison… The confidential production of this white wines uses the principal grape varieties such as Ugni, Bourboulenc, Rolle or Sémillon. Its proportions just vary with the under-appellations. And sometimes they offer real greediness like the white wine of Patricia Ortelli in la Calisse…

2006, November 9 - © Saveurs

Other information :
• Bandol
• Côtes De Provence
• Provence
• Domaine Lafran-Veyrolles Bandol
• Château De Pibarnon
• Château Simone
• Château La Calisse
• Château Du Seuil Grand Seuil Blanc
• Domaine Des Béates
• Château Pradeaux