Provence wines are produced in the South-East of France, in the Var and the Bouche-du-Rhône départments, in an area between Aix-en_Provence in the North, Toulon in the South, Martiguese in the West and the Esterel massif in the East. The soils are convenient for vine : poor, stony, well drained ; the climate is very sunny, but cooled down and dried by the Mistral wind.

Provence produces essentially fruity rosés, but also strong reds and light whites. Reds and rosés are produced from Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Tibouret, Mourvèdre, Carignan. Whites are made with Rolle, Ugni blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc blanc.

The Côtes de Provence benefits from an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) since 1977. The Côtes de Provence rosés, pale pink coloured, are fresh, smooth, with exotic fruits, floral and spicy notes. The Côtes de Provence reds are authentic, and can be drunk young or ageing. They develop aromas of red berries and flowers. The Côtes de Provence Whites are not numerous, but the quality is certain. These are fresh, delicate, balanced 'blancs de blancs' (white wines made from white grapes).

The AOC Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire was granted in 2005. These wines are produced near Aix-en-Provence and near the Sainte-Victoire hill. The Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire rosé wines are fresh and dry, with aromas of red fruits, citrus fruits and spices. The ruby red Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire offer a bouquet of red berries and spices, with toasted notes.

The AOC Côtes de Provence Fréjus was also granted in 2005, for wines produced near Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, the Esterel Massif ; the production exists in this area since the Romans. The rosé wines of Côtes de Provence Fréjus, salmon pink coloured, develop aromas of peach, apricot, citrus fruits, tropical fruits, white flowers, with sometimes touches of smoke and stones. The red wines of Côtes de Provence Fréjus intensely purple, taste of black fruits (cherries, blackberries), spices, vanilla, fudge, with light notes of tobacco.

Produced between the Durance river (in the North) and Aix-en-Provence (in the South), the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence rosés are pale, dry, and elegant. The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence whites are delicate and aromatic, and should be served chilled (6 to 8°C). The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence reds, powerful and full-bodied, can be drunk young, but can become very interesting after ageing for 2-6 years.

The Coteaux varois en Provence benefit from an AOC since 1993. They are produced in a mountanous area in the North of Toulon (massif de la Sainte-Baume). The Coteaux Varois en Provence rosés are elegant, fresh, brightly coloured, with notes of red fruits and spices. The reds are full bodied, strongly tempered, and can be kept long. The whites are delicate, elegant, subtle.

Corsica wines

Corsica vineyards are situated all along the coasts of the island, on granite (South and West), schist (North) and chalky soils. The climate is very hot and sunny, tempered by the Mediterranean sea.

Corsica produces 9 AOC wines : Ajaccio, Patrimonio, AOC village (Calvi, Figari, Sartène, Porto-Vecchio, Cap Corse), a sweet wine, Muscat du Cap Corse, and a regional AOC, Vins de Corse. These wines are mainly rosés (40 to 50 %), reds (30 to 40 %) and there are some whites (10 to 20 %).

The type of vines used are Barbarossa (red and rosé) with flowers aromas, Bianco Gentile which has aromas of exotic fruit, apricot, Aleatico, powerful and balanced (for red wines), Vermentinu (for white wines and rosés) with a dry and mineral character, Sciaccarellu (for red and rosé), red fruit, spices, burned wood and 'maquis' flowers, and Niellucciu, a red vine with a perfume of 'hare fur and liquorice', touches of red fruit and wood.

Provence wines & Corsica wines - classement appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC)

Ajaccio
Bandol
Bellet
Calvi (Corse)
Cassis
Corse
Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Côteaux du Cap Corse (Corse)
Côteaux Varois
Côtes de Provence
Figari (Corse)
Les Baux de Provence
Muscat du Cap Corse
Palette
Patrimonio
Porto Vecchio (Corse)
Sartene (Corse)

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