PROVENCE

The Land of Rosé

Provence, in southeast France, is best known for its rosé wines. Stretching around Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, it is a varied terrain with rocky slopes on the numerous mountain ranges and in hidden valleys. It has lots of sunshine (3,000 sunshine hours a year) and relatively low rainfall. Wine has been made here since the Ancient Greeks founded the city of Marseille in 600 BCE. For anyone that has seen the film “Jean de Florette,” this is Marcel Pagnol country. The region has also attracted numerous artists for the quality of its light and diverse scenery. Natural landmarks such as Mont SainteVictoire captured on canvas are on display in galleries around the world. Provence’s wines match well with local dishes such as soupe de poisson and bouillabaisse laden with garlicky rouille. Within Provence, there are nine main Appellations including Côteaux d'Aix-enProvence, Côtes de Provence as well as smaller, more specific Appellations like Bandol which specializes in wines made from the Mourvèdre grape.

In the west of the region, to the northeast of the city of Aix-en-Provence is the Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Appellation. The Appellation starts south of the Durance River and extends to the Mediterranean coast. The climate is the most influenced by the north mistral wind in Provence which comes down the Rhône Valley.