Provence

This area is located in the South-West of France and covers the following departments: Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Alpes Maritimes.
The soil in this area offers a significant and uncommon range and the climate is warm, sunny and Mediterranean. The wine-growing area is 65480 acres.

Main grape varieties

White grape varieties

• Marsanne (gives fine and structured wines).
• Sémillon (gives elegant wines).
• Rolle (gives fine and citrus fruit perfumed wines).
• Clairette (gives strong and balanced wines).
• White Ugni (gives fine, fruity and tangy wines).
• White Sauvignon (gives floral and fine wines).
• White Bourbenlec (gives floral wines with a slighlty bitter taste).

Red grape varieties

• Syrah (gives structured, coloured, tannic wines).
• Grenache (gives strong and full-bodied wines).
• Mourvèdre (gives corpulent wines with velvety aromas).

White and rosé wines of Provence can be stored between one and five years, and red wines can be kept from two to fifteen years.

Provence appellations

Côtes-de-Provence (PDO since 1799, famous for its rosés which represent 80% of the harvest) ; Cassis PDO (well known for its excellent heady, dry, delicate wine) ; Bellet (PDO since 1941) ; Bandol (red wines that can be kept for a long time) ; Baux-de-Provence (80% of red wines) ; finally Palette, Coteaux-Varois and Coteaux d'Aix PDOs.