Vineyard of Provence

The vineyards of Provence extend from the South of Avignon until the the Alpes-Maritimes (vineyard of Bellet on Nice). The vineyards are marked by a very great heterogeneity of situation as well pédo-geological as climatic with obviously dominant of Mediterranean Climat strict but also of colder zones where the influence of the wind will be determining. Within this vineyard were recognized the controlled labels of origin (AOC) following:

regional names

AOC Coasts of Provence
AOC Slopes of Aix-en-Provence
AOC Slopes in Provence

local names

AOC Bandol
AOC Bellet
AOC Cassis
AOC Pallets
AOC the Beams of Provence

The statistical data were brought up to date on the production 2005.

Coasts of Provence

Decree of February 9th, 2005 modified on October 5th, 2005 and abrogeant the initial decree of October 24th, 1977.

History

With XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries, “the fond of delicacies wines of clérets of Provence” were very appreciated at the Court of France, where them notoriety profited from the feather of Madam de Sévigné. The vineyard, already known in 1848 under the name of Coasts of Provence, has being rebuilt at the beginning of the XXe century after the phylloxerna crisis. Thanks to the efforts of some pioneers, a new step is crossed in 1951 with the accession in VDQS “Coasts of Provence”. The geographical surface included/understood 42 communes then. It will be increased by two decrees, then the accession in AOC in 1977 will change the number of communes of the geographical surface to 84.

Geography

The 84 communes of this name are located in the departments of the Var and the Rhone delta, except for a commune located in the department of the Alpes-Maritimes. It is the most extended name of names of Provence.

5 great natural zones are distinguished:

the massive crystalline lens of the Moors, in the South and South-east of the department of the VAr. 15 communes are attached there.
the Permian Dépression, which goes from Toulon until Saint-Raphaël, to which are attached 25 communes.
the triassic Plate and the hills Jurassic S limestones, located at the North and the North-West of the depression. (19 communes)
the basin of the Beausset, in which finds the communes of the surface of the AOC Bandol. (18 communes)
the high basin of the Arc, limited to North by the links of the Holy-Victoire, the Cengle, and by the hills of Pourrières and Pourcieux, it is closed in the South by the links of Star, Regaignas, Olympe and Aurélien. (13 communes).

Climate

The whole of the sector is subjected to the Mediterranean climate of Provence with homogeneous annual average temperatures: 14°C for the Northern part and 15°C for the Southern part of the surface.

We are in addition under a Climat with a rate/rhythm at 4 times: 2 dry Seasons (short in Winter, very long and accentuated in be), 2 seasons rainy, in Fall (abundant rains and brutal) and with the Spring.

The Précipitations on average lie between 600mm and 900mm. The Ensoleillement is higher has 2700 hours per annum.

Finally it should be noted that wine Provence is the country of the “méso-climates”, induced at the same time by a very disordered relief, but also by the decreasing maritime influence of the South in North. It is not rare thus to note a variation of maturity from 2 to 3 weeks of the South in North.

Grounds

concerning the Crystalline Solid mass of the Moors: the vineyard is developed on not very advanced grounds with grounds brown on Schistes, Phyllades, sandstone, or on grounds of falls or sablo-alluvial.
concerning the Permian Depression, the red sandstone base of the primary era (Permian) gave rise to argilo-sandy grounds of red color and binds wine, to which colluviaux grounds by contributions of the reliefs are added which dominate the depression on both sides.
in the zone of the Triassic Plate and the Jurassic hills limestones, one distinguishes: on the triassic sector, grounds are developed on the outcrops of the dolomitic formations or marno-limestones of Sorted; on the Jurassic hills, the vineyard occupies the depressions, on grounds brown rendziniformes, grounds limestones or calcic grounds.
in the Basin of Beausset, the outcrop of the Crétacé dominate (marnes and sandstone), as well as limestones and marnes of the Jurassic one.
finally, the grounds of the High Basin of the Arc are developed on the colluviaux and alluvial contributions coming from the deterioration and the erosion of the Jurassic reliefs limestones.

Rules of production

Encépagement

red and rosy Wines

principal type of vines: 2 obligatory principal type of vines among:

Grenache NR
Mourvèdre
Cinsault
Tibouren NR
Syrah (60% minimum from 2000,70% minimum from 2005,80% minimum as from 2015)

secondary type of vines:

Cabernet-sauvignon (30% maximum)
Carignan (40% maximum)
barbaroux
calitor

white Wines

Pale
vermentino (known as poker)
white Sémillon
ugni

Density

2.5m ² per maximum foot, with 2,50m maximum between each row and 0.80m on the row

Cut

The vines are led in the short face, with coursons in two eyes, either out of goblet or in cord of royat. Except for the syrah and the cabernet sauvignon for which the long size is authorized with a maximum of 8 frank eyes per foot and 6 eyes frank maximum on long wood.

Outputs

basic output: 55 hl/ha
output stop: 66 hl/ha

Economic situation

Surface in production: 20300 ha
declared Volume: 1.000.000 hl

15% of red wines
80% of rosy wines
5% of white wines

Full number of informants: 3900

48 cooperative wine caves, accounting for 55% of the production
370 particular cellars, accounting for 45% of the production

Production

white Wines

traditional Wine making and wine making on fine dregs
Eye: pale yellow, brilliant with green reflections
Nose: floral (fennel, Acacia, Broom) fruity (Citrus fruits, Lemon-yellow, Grapefruit) or balsamic (resin)
Mouth: structured and framed with fresh finale

red Wines

traditional Wine making with more or less long maceration, like wine making by carbonic maceration
Eye: crimson with purple reflections
Nose: notes fruity (red fruits) or vegetable (bay-tree, Rosemary, Tobacco) evolving to the black fruit, of the spiced notes (Liquorice, grooves) or animal (fur, venaison).

rosy Wines

Wine making: direct pressing, cold maceration, bleeding.
Eye: pallet broad of the pink blade to the pink frank, orange clearly, pink salmon, peony
Nose: diversity is the reflection of the mosaic of the soils: fruity, floral (Thyme, Dill, Lime), plant (Mint, Tobacco), empyreumatic (stone with rifle), balsamic (bark of pine)
Mouth: expenses but sour, molten but hot, round, flexible and not structured but not astringent. All art consists in finding this balance delicate.

Slopes of Aix-en-Provence

Decree of December 24th, 1985

History

The vineyard inhabitant of Aix, already very wide in Ier century before J.C., profited from the action of King Rene of Anjou, like all the vineyard of Provence. The vine will progress until worms 1830 with the increase in clearings on the slopes of hills. The Phylloxéra destroyed most of the vineyard which was reconstituted gradually by dispersed small islands. The VDQS “Slopes of Aix-en-Provence” was recognized by the decree of January 23rd, 1956.

Geography

The field of the Slopes of Aix belongs to the Western part of Low calcareous Provence, between the Durance in North, the the Mediterranean in the South, the Rhodaniennes plains in the West and triassic and crystalline Provence in the East. The relief is consisted a succession of chains of East-West orientation. Between these chains extend from the sedimentary basins of unequal importances. Climate: The average of the rains ranges between 550 and 680mm the wind prevailing is the Mistral. The sunning varies from 2700 to 2900 hours.

Grounds

grounds stony argilo-limestones
grounds sandy, often gravelly, on molasses and sandstone
stony grounds with argillaceous matrix or limono-sand spreader of the terraces of the Arc and the Durance
grounds on colluviums of slope

Rules of production

Encépagement

Red and rosy Wines

grenache NR
mourvèdre NR
cinsault NR
syrah NR
counoise NR (limited individually to 40% maximum, except the grenache)
carignan
cabernet sauvignon (limited individually to 30% maximum)

white Wines

principal type of vines:

bourboulenc
pale
grenache B.
vermentino (limited individually to 70% maximum)

secondary type of vines:

white Ugni (40%max.imum)
sauvignon
sémillon (30% maximum individually)

Density

It is of 3300 pieds/ha

Cut

The vines are led in the short face, goblet or cord of royat, with a maximum of eight let us coursons in one or two eyes per stock. Except for the syrah, the cabernet sauvignon, the semillon, and the sauvignon for which the long size is authorized with 40000 eyes maximum with the hectare.

Basic output

It is of 60 hl/ha and constitutes also the output stop.

Economic situation

Surface in production: 4000 ha Declared volume: 204.000 hl

25% of red wines
70% of rosy wines
5% of white wines

Full number of informants: 583

14 cooperative wine caves, accounting for 40% of the production
59 particular cellars, accounting for 60% of the production

Production

White Wines: the best results are obtained in the North of the surface; floral notes (acacia, broom) and fruity (citrus fruits)
Rosy Wines: light, fruity, pleasant, they must be drunk young; fruity notes (strawberry, fishing) and floral (lime).
Red Wines: light and flexible or more rustic with tannins which have need of time to refine and gum a relative bitterness; with the nose, floral notes (violet) or vegetable (hay, bay-tree, tobacco) which leave the place to more advanced nuances (grooves, fur).

Slopes of the department of Var in Provence

Decree of March 26th, 1993 relating to the Of the department of Var AOC “Slopes” modified on August 2nd, 2005

History

It is one of most recent names of Provence. The Of the department of Var name of Slopes appears for the first time in 1945, in a statutory text fixing the prices of the wines. The request for accession in VDQS presented in 1978 leads with the publication of the decree on June 28th, 1984. The AOC is recognized in 1993 with the denomination “Slopes of the department of Var”, it will be modified the Of the department of Var on August 2nd, 2005 in “Slopes in Provence”.

Geography

The of the department of Var vineyard of the Slopes in Provence is very discontinuous between the solid masses wooded limestones. The surface is limited to North by the series of plates of Rians to Canjuers; in the South, by the Mounts of the Resident of Toulon; in the West, by the Mount Aurélien; in the East, by the bar of Saint-Quinis - the valleys are narrow and the quite distinct basins at various altitudes.

Climate

It is a Mediterranean climate of the interior with very varied nuances. One passes gradually from the climate of the holm oak around the area of Brignoles, with the climate of the pubescent Chêne more in North. Precipitations vary from 700 mm to 900 mm per annum with average temperatures of 13°C. One notes differences in time of maturity of the South in the North from 15 to 30 days.

Grounds

The grounds of this name are located on limestones belonging on many floors of the Trias, the Jurassic and Crétacé inferior. The principal types of grounds are: red clay grounds of decalcification to remains angular limestones, grounds brown on marnes, grounds on colluvial deposition or old alluvia, stony and deep with the periphery of the karstic basins.

Rules of production

Encépagement

Red and rosy Wines

principal type of vines: 2 obligatory principal type of vines in the minimal proportion of 80% among:

grenache NR
cinsaut NR
mourvèdre NR.
syrah NR

secondary type of vines: (limited to 20%)

carignan NR.
cinsault NR.
cabernet sauvignon

White Wines

pale B.
grenache B.
poker B. (30% min.)
sémillon B. (max. 30%)
ugni B. (max. 25%)

Density

4000.pieds/ha with 2,50 m maximum between rows.

Cut

The vines are led coursons some in two frank eyes, with a maximum loading of twelve frank eyes per feet. Except for the syrah and the cabernet sauvignon for which the long size is authorized with 10 frank eyes maximum per foot and 8 eyes frank maximum on long wood.

Basic output

: 55 hl/ha
Stop: 60 hl/ha.

Economic situation

Surface in production: 2200 ha Declared volume: 100000 hl of which:

17% of red wines
80% of rosy wines
3% of white wines

Full number of informants: 320

13 Cooperative wine caves, accounting for 45% of the production
66 Particular Cellars, accounting for 55% of the production

Production

Red Wines: the Mediterranean climate of “the fresher interior” offers excellent aptitudes for the production of red wines structured and balanced with a maturity of polyphenols without stress. The first floral notes (violet) or vegetable (hay, mint) leave room to more advanced nuances (liquorice, venaison, cooked).

Rosy Wines: their dress is rather constant; with the nose, fruity notes (fishing, raspberry, strawberry).

White Wines: confidential production, under development - Nose citrus fruits and floral - Smoothness in mouth, round, expenses.

Bandol

History

Civilization phocéenne unloaded in this area here are 26 centuries, bringing to the Ligurians art to cultivate and cut the vine. The Romans organized the trade of the olive oil and the wine, witnesses the amphoras or dolia re-installed sea-beds. The ease of transport of a wine well balanced and structured had made and will make its fame. The port of Bandol not being deep enough, of the tartanes or félonques were used to transport the barrels to the large ships wet in the roads. At the great century, the wine is improved thoroughly of hold during crossings towards the Islands. The barrels of oak are marked with the fire of the “B” of Bandol which ensured its origin and its authenticity.

Geography

It extends on 8 communes from the natural zone from the Basin from the BEAUSSET having the structure of synclinal largely opened in the West towards the sea. The surface of production is thus enclosed in a vast amphitheater of mountain (co. Balsam, Mont Caume).

Climate

The annual pluviometric average is of 650 mm with a strong sunning. The influence of the sea is felt, it moderates the solar heat in summer while ensuring a certain night moisture.

Grounds

The surface of production is located mainly on grounds of the Cretaceous. The standard ground of the soil of Bandol is the skeletal ground, which rests primarily on the elements of degradation of the calciferous sandstones and marnes sandy, and possibly on fall or colluvial deposition with a character rendziniforme.

Rules of production

Encépagement: - Red and rosy Wines: * principal type of vines: mourvèdre NR, grenache NR, cinsault NR, (for the reds, the mourvèdre must account for 50% at least). The presence from at least two of these three type of vines is obligatory. * Additional type of vines: Syrah, Carignan. - White Wines: bourboulenc, pale and ugni white - secondary type of vine: Sauvignon (40%) Density: 5000 feet/ha Cut: the vines must be cut court with two flocks and bourrillon. Entry in production with the 8th sheet for the red wines. Basic output: 40 hl/ha, and constitutes the output stop

Economic situation

Surface in production: 1500 ha Declared volume: 55.000 hl of which Ä 31% of red wines Ä 64% of rosy wines Ä 5% of white wines Full number of informants: 268 4 Cooperative wine caves, accounting for 40% of the production 59 Particular Cellars, accounting for 60% of the production

Production

18 months breeding minimum out of barrels for the red wines.

White wines: wrap yellow straw clear with flavors of lime and brooms. Rosy wines: pale dress, wild rose. The mourvèdre, more and more present, bring one better conservation. Red wines: the mourvèdre, (associate with the grenache), gives them their noble letters. They are powerful, constructed, tannic and of long conservation. Characterized at the beginning by red fruit flavors, they acquire after breeding of the flavors of truffles and under wood.

Blackcurrant

History

The vine always dominated agriculture cassidaine. Flourishing at the time Roman, the vineyard will adopt the Muscatel type of vine and will take its rise about 1520 with the florentine family of Albizzi.Au XVIe century, 200 ha produce 4.000 hl red and white wines. A quarter was composed of the famous muscatel worked out out of liqueur-like wine. Completely destroyed by will phylloxéra, the vineyard was rehabilitated since 1892 without Muscatel, hostile with the understocks used, and entirely reconstituted on the initiative of Joseph Savon, Marseilles trader, followed in that, of its farmhouse of Calendal, by the poet Emile Bodin.

Geography

The geographical surface of production is consisted of the only commune of Blackcurrant, located at 20 km of Marseilles. The Blackcurrant gulf and bay are surrounded by heights which can reach more than 400 Mr. most of the vineyard is cultivated there in terrace, between 10 and 150 m of altitude.

Climate

The wine territory is protected from the mistral by the belt made up the surrounding heights. The frosts are exceptional and the very important sunning.

Grounds

The Blackcurrant basement belongs to the Cretaceous. Three great types of grounds are found: not very deep grounds and of erosion, grounds rendziniformes and not very deep brown grounds, and brown grounds developed on colluviums.

Rules of production

Encépagement: - Red and rosy Wines: principal type of vines: grenache NR, carignan, mourvèdre, cinsault, barbaroux. - White Wines: principal type of vines: pale, marsanne (40% from 2000,60% as from 2005 with 30% minimum of marsanne) secondary type of vines: ugni white, white Pascal, doucillon, sauvignon Density: 4000 feet/ha Cut: the vines are led in the short face, out of goblet, range or cord of royat comprising to the more 6 let us coursons in two eyes to the maximum in addition to the bourillon. Basic output: 45 hl/ha and constitutes the output stop

Economic situation

Surface in production: 200 ha Declared volume: 8.000 hl including red wine 2% rosy wine 27% white wine 71% Full number of informants: 13 0 cooperative wine cave, 13 particular cellars, accounting for 100% of the production

Production

White wines: they represent the principal production. They are wines dry, round, with complex flavor with floral notes (lime), fruity (quince), balsamics (resin), but without olfactive great power. These wines marry perfectly with the seafood or the fish soup. The white wines are marketed after 1 year of breeding. Rosy wines: pale dress - Cinsaut, type of vine dominating brings smoothness to them and fruity. Red wines: Marginal production - the grenache gives a generous character to them, sometimes tannic.

Bellet

Decree of November 11th, 1941

History

Under the revolution, the hamlet of Romance Saint of Bellet, in the middle of name was baptized “Bacchus”, testifying to the wine vocation of this area. Will phylloxera and the two world wars involved a spectacular fall of the surfaces in vine and the producers turned to the culture of the eyelet of Nice, more lucrative. The production will be maintained especially thanks to the efforts of a wine merchant who reconstituted a vineyard as from 1946.

Geography

The surface of production is limited to the commune of Nice, it is located on terraces which overhang (between 200 and 400 m) left bank of the VAr, at the West of the city.

Climate

The annual pluviometric average is of 830 mm with a strong sunning. The presence of the valley of the VAr allows the circulation of the winds: the vineyard is subjected at night to the marine breeze. Induced specific méso-climate of the late grape harvest which gives to the wines of Bellet a character more septentrional than southernmost.

Grounds

The ground of the terraces is of origin higher pliocene, consisted of conglomerates and formed rolled sandstone rollers. Cement is generally sandy, not very resistant. The dominant one of the sandstones gives grounds made up from 80% to coarse or fine sand 90%.

Rules of production

Encépagement: - Red and rosy Wines: * principal type of vines: gear ratio, insane NR, cinsault NR. * Additional type of vines: grenache NR, and white type of vines indicated hereafter for the white wines. (40% maximum) - White Wines: poker, roussane, spagnol or mayorquin - secondary type of vines: pale, bourboulenc, chardonnay, pignerol, muscatel with small grain. (40% maximum) Density: 5000 feet/ha Cut: the vines are led in the short face, out of goblet, range or cord of royat comprising to the more 5 let us coursons in two frank eyes. Basic output: 40 hl/ha - Output stop = 48 hl/ha

Economic situation

Surface in production: 47 ha Declared volume: 1.390 hl including red wine 42% rosy wine 23% white wine 37% Full number of informants: 11 0 cooperative wine cave, 11 particular cellars, accounting for 100% of the production

Production

White wines: light color, with the constant floral bouquet (lime and flower of vine). Rosy wines: very original, especially when the gear ratio is dominating, one distinguishes there from the flavors of broom and especially of bois de rose. Red wines: they have at the beginning of the fruity flavors or dominate plum and apricot. Their tannic character attenuates after the breeding. ; the nose evolves to a cherry bouquet. They are high one year minimum out of barrels.

Pallets

Decree of April 28th, 1948

History

The territory of Pallet was famous a long time for its production of cooked wine. It accompanied for the midnight supper by Christmas of Provence the thirteen desserts and the “pompo with the oli” (cake with oil). It is a production which was practically abandoned but which reappears today in all Provence and for which a request for recognition in AOC is in the course of assembly.

Geography

This name owes its name with the hamlet of Pallet located at the center of a circus of the same name, with 4km in the east of Aix-en-Provence. The geographical surface of production consists of three communes.

Climate

The vineyard is protected from the winds of North by the hills of Langesse and of the Great CABRI, but by the Valley of the Arc, the vineyard is subjected to the winds of Western West-North. The vineyard is mainly exposed in North, from where late grape harvest.

Grounds

The grounds of this name are located on water limestones of Langesse and Montaiguet. The vineyard is only on grounds rendziniformes of fall limestones, i.e. on skeletal of little thickness and stony grounds.

Rules of production

Encépagement: - Red and rosy Wines: * principal type of vines 50% minimum: grenache NR, mourvèdre (10% minimum), cinsaut * secondary type of vines: Carignan, syrah, manosquin, durif, muscatel NR., cabernet sauvignon, castet - White Wines: pale in these various local forms (55%min.) - secondary type of vines: ugni white, grenache Bl., Bl muscatel., terret bouret, picpoul, Pascal, aragnan, colombard… Encépagement of this name to the characteristic to also integrate out of additional type of vines it quasi totality of type of vines present in Provence at the beginning of the XXe century. Density: nothing Cut: the vines are led in the short face, with two new flocks. Except for the syrah for which the long size is authorized. Basic output: 40 hl/ha; output stop: 48 hl/ha

Economic situation

Surface in production: 45 ha Declared volume: 2000 hl including red wine 55% rosy wine 15% white wine 30% Full number of informants: 5 1 cooperative wine caves, accounting for 16% of the production (until harvest 2005) 4 particular cellars, accounting for 84% of the production

Production

Time of 8 months minimum for the white and rosy, 18 months conservation minimum under wood for the reds. White wines: they are at least preserved 8 months before marketing and presents an aptitude particular to the breeding not very common in the southernmost white wines. Floral and balsamic nose. Rosy wines: worked out half by in a hurry direct and half per bleeding before assembly. They are preserved 8 months in containers out of wooden, on dregs. Floral nose and underwood. Red wines: wrap dark, tannic, they are obtained by assembly of the mourvèdre and some old type of vines, from where a particular typicity. Animal nose, underwood and of black fruits.

Beam-of-Provence

Decree of April 20th, 1995 recognizing name for the red and rosy wines, request for recognition in progress for the production of white wines which are currently asserted within name “Slopes of Aix-en-Provence”

History

Decree of January 23rd, 1956 defining the VDQS “Slopes of the Beams of Provence. ” until the use potential of the denomination “the Beams of Provence” envisaged in the decree of December 24th, 1985, the particular identity of the area of the Beams of Provence thus was regularly recognized, identity with the image of the Citadel, was based on the ruins of a Gallic oppidum and which takes care today on the prosperity of the vines and of the olive-trees which besiege it peacefully.

Geography

Located at the Western North of Aix-en-Provence., this vineyard occupies the slopes North and South of Alpilles, picturesque relief which rises to 400 m of altitude and which lengthens on about thirty kilometers Is in West. The geographical surface of production covers the territory of seven communes. (cf chart of the Slopes of Aix-en-Provence).

Climate

The average of the rains ranges between 550 and 680 Misters the insolation varies from 2700 to 2900 hours. It is a sector not very frost susceptible, hotter and earlier than the whole of the sector of C Slopes of Aix-en-Provence.

Grounds

The Chain of Alpilles is characterized by the homogeneous presence of the higher Cretaceous and Miocène. Spreadings of slope and colluviums are characteristic of the area. They are very stony; one finds them in the form of glacis, alluvial cones, falls or grèzes litées. These stony deposits of cryoclastic origin (würmiens or postwürmiens) are very characteristic of this area.

Rules of production

Encépagement: - Red Wines: *cépages principal: grenache NR, mourvèdre NR, syrah NR, must account for 60% minimum. Two type of vines at least are obligatory. *cépages secondary: cinsault NR., counoise NR, carignan NR., limited to 30% individually. and cabernet sauvignon, limited to 20%. - Rosy Wines:

principal type of vines: grenache NR., syrah NR., cinsault NR. (60% min.)
secondary type of vines: mourvèdre, carignan, counoise are limited to 30%, the cabernet S. to 10%.

Density: 4000 feet/ha Cut: the vines are led in the short face, goblet or cord of royat, with a maximum of six let us coursons in one or two eyes per stock. Basic output: 50 hl/ha, and constitutes the output stop.

Economic situation

Surface in production: 280 ha Declared volume: 15500 hl of which: red wine 75% rosy wine 25% Full number of informants: 14 Cooperative wine caves, accounting for 0% of the production 14 Particular Cellars, accounting for 100% of the production

Production

Rosy wines: generally structured and rustic with characters fruity, floral or empyreumatic. Red wines: fleshy, robust, constructed with a good tannic reserve anoblie for the breeding; vegetable notes (rosemary, tobacco) evolving to fruit notes black or animal (amber, game). The red wines must be the subject of twelve months a minimum breeding

The Corsican wines are treated in Vignoble of Corsica.

Bonds

rosy wines of Provence (France)
invinoveritas.fr

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