Wines of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Vineyards in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurwere introduced by the Phocaeans and developed in this former Greek colony by the Romans. As is common to much of France’s wine-growing region, viticulture was maintained in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur after the fall of the Roman Empire, first by numerous monastic estates and later by the great noble families settled in the region. Affected by phylloxera, the vineyards of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur gradually recovered from this crisis during the 20th century. Today, production is protected by various appellations, notably including the regional appellations of Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, and Coteaux Varois, as well as prestigious local appellations such as Bandol, Palette, Cassis, and Bellet.

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurwine region spans the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, particularly around Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, and Toulon. The climate is, of course, Mediterranean—hot and dry. The Mistral, a strong wind, nevertheless brings valuable benefits to this terroir. In summer, it provides a welcome coolness. As a very dry wind, it protects the vineyards of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur from diseases linked to humidity.

The grape varieties used to produce red and rosé wines inProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azurare primarily Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and, native to the region, Cinsault and Tibouren. White wines from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, on the other hand, use grape varieties of Italian origin such as Rolle and Ugni Blanc, or local varieties such as Clairette.

Discover the wineries of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region: Simone, Saint Maur, Fontcreuse, Romanin, Château de Bellet, Pibarnon, Miraval, Mas de la Dame, Trevallon, Bagnol, Terres Blanches, Bormettes, Barbanau, Richeaume, Minuty, Bastide Blanche, Dalmeran, Sainte Roseline, Clos Sainte Magdeleine, Courtade, Revelette, Suffrene