Bellet

The Bellet appellation d'origine contrôlée covers some 650 hectares, of which around 50 are in production. The Bellet hills are among the last foothills of the Alps. The vineyards are located entirely within the commune of Nice, and today include some fifteen family-run farms. Among the Bellet appellation's renowned crus are Château de Bellet, Château de Crémat, Domaine Saint Jean and Clos Saint Vincent.

The vines of Bellet are rooted in narrow plots called "Restanques", made up of rolled pebbles mixed with very light sand (Poudingue) with a few clay veins. These excellent conditions favor the expression and full ripening of the grapes in the harmony of Bellet red wines . In addition, the particular climatic conditions favor a slow ripening process, essential for the freshness and elegance of the white and rosé wines.

The Bellet appellation decree, dating from 1941, authorizes a number of grape varieties. For white wines, winegrowers mainly use Rolle, a typical Nice plant that accounts for over 80% of production, with Chardonnay making up the remainder. Bellet reds and rosés are made with Folle Noire or Braquet, and to a lesser extent with Grenache and Cinsault. At Bellet, the grapes are harvested by hand towards the end of September.