Provence Wines

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L'ABUS D'ALCOOL EST DANGEREUX POUR LA SANTE, A CONSOMMER AVEC MODERATION

provence Wine and the good life in Provence Provence is a rich, diverse region. Although it is widely acclaimed for its sunny climate and warm welcome, it also has a wild, secret side to its nature. Its grape growing tradition dates back thousands of years, and the wines have evolved to reflect the character of the region’s terroir: fresh, lively rosés with a distinct and rather forceful personality; elegant, aromatic whites and rich, powerful reds. Many Provençal wines have forged a reputation around the world - others are as-yet undiscovered secrets. Either way, these wines only reveal themselves in full to those who seek them out.

This beautiful region is strewn with vineyards from the Mediterranean coast to the foothills of the Alps, from the dramatic landscape around Aix-en-Provence to Nice’s famed Riviera. Wine is an intrinsic part of Provence’s sought-after lifestyle, its art de vivre, and, red, white or rosé, they are all unquestionably Mediterranean in character. Here in Provence, living well is a way of life…

Welcome to Provence!

Rosé wines are a symbol of welcome in Provence. Tradition has it that they should be drunk with friends - these wines are made for the pleasure that comes from sharing.

Provence: the birthplace of rosé wine The Phocians - colonists from the Greek mainland - first introduced the art of grape growing to Marseille when they founded the city an impressive 26 centuries ago. The original wines were pale in colour, similar to today’s rosés, although viticultural and winemaking technologies have improved considerably since then. Provence is, therefore, France’s oldest vineyard, and the rosés produced are France’s oldest wines.

Rosé de Provence is unique Provence’s rosés are usually described as being pale, dry, aromatic and elegant. This style is the end result of painstaking production processes, and the wines qualities are best appreciated when tasted under appropriate conditions. Rosés from Provence work perfectly as apéritif wines, but are equally at home when served with traditional Provençal and Mediterranean specialities, Asian dishes or contemporary fusion food. In fact, they are the ideal partners for the way people want to eat these days, and are a source of genuine easygoing pleasure.

Provence’s white wines: small in volume but high in quality The white wines of Provence are traditionally ‘blancs de blancs’, that is they are made exclusively from white grapes. They can be refreshing and tangy or, when aged in oak casks, smooth and intensely aromatic.

Excellent, diverse reds In addition to its widely acclaimed rosés, the rich, varied terroirs of Provence – typically based on impoverished, arid Mediterranean soils – also produce a wide diversity of high-class red wines, which bear the hallmark of the men and women who make them. They can be light and fruity, rich and full bodied thanks to many months spent maturing in oak barrels or inert tanks, or powerful, generous wines that repay further ageing by developing layers of complexity.

A research centre dedicated to rosé wine in the heart of Provence This international research centre is dedicated to helping those making rosé wine in Provence and elsewhere. The International Rosé Symposium (Rencontres Internationales du Rosé), which is held in Provence every two years, brings together researchers, academics, journalists and producers in order to tackle specialist topics. The rich diversity of Provence’s vineyards Bordered on one side by the Mediterranean Sea and on the other by the Alps, Provence’s wine-growing region stretches some 200 kilometres from east to west, spanning three departments: the Bouches-du-Rhône, the Var and a small section of the Alpes-Maritimes. With its patchwork of different soils and a diversity of landscapes, the region is particularly well suited to growing grapes. Provence also benefits from an exceptional amount of sunshine, a hot, dry climate and the Mistral, which blows regularly, all of which deters disease and promotes healthy vineyards.

The art of blending Thanks to its tremendous geological and geographical diversity, Provence’s vineyards are home to 15 different grape varieties. The wines themselves are produced using a traditional blending technique that consists of vinifying each grape variety separately then blending them in order to create balanced wines that combine the individual qualities of each variety.

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The Wines of provence T h r e e A O C W i n e s

Coteaux d’Aix-en-provence PROVENCE “PAR EXCELLENCE”...

Lying, as it does, between Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Sainte-Victoire mountain, the vineyard area of Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence covers 4,100 hectares and abuts Provence’s ancient capital city. Founded by the Romans, Aix-en-Provence was home to King René, the ‘winemaking king’ who developed the region’s vineyards. Not only do the Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence’s vineyards have a rich history, they also benefit from optimal grape-growing conditions: a chalky clay soil, plentiful sunshine and regular gusts of Mistral winds. These natural assets, combined with age-old expertise, environmentally friendly growing techniques and cutting-edge technologies, help to create top-quality wines, each with its own distinct personality.

Côtes de provence THE ESSENCE OF PROVENCE.

The vast 20,230-hectare grape-growing zone of the Côtes de Provence appellation stretches from Aix-en-Provence to Nice, covering five natural zones along the way: the Mediterranean coast, the inland valley, the inland hills, the Beausset basin and the mountain of Sainte-Victoire. The region’s vineyards draw their strength and quality from dry, impoverished soils, but also benefit from the cleansing Mistral wind and the life-giving sunshine of Provence. The quality of today’s Côtes de Provence wines is the result of the efforts of generations of passionate and talented grape growers. As part of a commitment to continued quality improvement, the vineyards of the Côtes de Provence have now been further subdivided into smaller, more precise terroirs. This move has given rise to two new regional sub-appellations :

Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Situated at the foot of Sainte-Victoire mountain, which has been captured by numerous artists over the years, the vineyards of Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire enjoy a slightly continental climate. They are regularly visited by cleansing Mistral winds and are well sheltered from maritime influences.

Côtes de Provence Fréjus The vineyards of Côtes de Provence Fréjus are irrigated by the Argens Rivers and its tributaries as it flows towards the coast. Their direct exposure to sea breezes promotes healthy growth.

Côtes de Provence La Londe The vineyards of the La Londe terroir are tucked between the crystalline rock faces of the Maures mountains along the coast of the Mediterranean, facing the Iles d’Or islands. The maritime climate enables the region's wine producers to develop elegant wines with a distinctive character.

Coteaux varois en provence THE INNER PROVENCE

The vineyards of the Coteaux Varois en Provence appellation is spread out around the town of Brignoles, which is located between the Sainte-Baume mountain and the Bessillons mountain range. Sheltered from the winds, the vineyards benefit from a continental climate and chalk and clay soils. The unique properties of this small area, combined with the talents of the local growers, help to produce unique wines.

Provence’s wines: key facts and figures Three major AOC zones: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence.

Total planted area:27,000 hectares.

France’s fourthlargest wine-producing zone.

Annual production:162 million bottles, of which… 74,3%are Côtes de Provence 16%are Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and9,7%are Coteaux Varois en Provence

Provence accounts for5.8%of the total production of AOC wines in France (red, white and rosé included).

Volume:1,217,000 hectolitresper year, of which… rosé accounts for88% red accounts for9% white accounts for3% Yields are lower than55 hectolitres per hectare.

The domestic - and world - leader in the production of dry, fruity rosé.

The region boasts608producers (of which546are small estates and62are co-operatives) and72négociant businesses

Provence is the country's top producer of AOC rosé wines, providing nearly one half of all AOC rosés consumed in France.

Provence’s Wine Board (Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence) represents three regional appellations: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence. It works hand in hand with the Regional Traders’ Federation (Fédération Régionale du Négoce). The CIVP is the representative body for 95% of the AOC wines made in Provence .

Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence Maison des Vins - RN7 - 83460 Les Arcs-sur-Argens - France Tel: [phone] - Fax: [phone] E-mail : [e-mail] Web : www.vinsdeprovence.com

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AOC CÔTES DE PROVENCE Maison des Vins Côtes de Provence Syndicat des Vins Côtes de Provence RN7 - 83460 Les Arcs-sur-Argens Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

AOC CÔTES DE PROVENCE SAINTE-VICTOIRE Vinothèque Sainte-Victoire Association des Vignerons de la Sainte-Victoire 1 bd Etienne Boyer - BP 25 - 13530 Trets Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

AOC CÔTES DE PROVENCE FRÉJUS Association Vins et Terroir de Fréjus Domaine de Curebéasse Rte de Bagnols en Forêt - 83600 Fréjus Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

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AOC CÔTES DE PROVENCE LA LONDE Association des Vignerons de la Londe 1630 Chemin Soldat Macri - 83400 HYERES Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

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AOC COTEAUX D’AIX-EN-PROVENCE Syndicat des Vins Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Maison des Agriculteurs 22 avenue Henri Pontier - 13626 Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1 Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

AOC COTEAUX VAROIS EN PROVENCE Maison des Vins Coteaux Varois en Provence Syndicat des Vins Coteaux Varois en Provence Abbaye de La Celle - 83170 La Celle Tél : [phone] E-mail : [e-mail]

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