Bellet

The Bellet appellation d'origine contrôlée covers approximately 650 hectares, of which around 50 are in production. The Bellet hills are part of the last foothills of the Alps. The vineyard is located entirely within the municipality of Nice and today comprises around fifteen family-run estates. Among the renowned wines of the Bellet appellation are Château de Bellet, Château de Crémat, Domaine Saint Jean and Clos Saint Vincent.

The Bellet vineyards are rooted in narrow terraces called "Restanques" made up of rounded pebbles mixed with very light sand (Poudingue) and a few clay veins. These excellent conditions combine to promote the expression and full maturity of the grapes in the harmony of Bellet red wines . In addition, the specific climatic conditions favor a slow ripening process that is essential for the freshness and elegance of the white and rosé wines.

The Bellet wine appellation decree, dating from 1941, authorizes a certain number of grape varieties. For white wines, winegrowers mainly use Rolle, a grape variety typical of Nice, which accounts for more than 80% of production, with Chardonnay being used for the rest. Bellet red and rosé wines are made with Folle Noire or Braquet and, to a lesser extent, Grenache and Cinsault. In Bellet, the grapes are harvested by hand towards the end of September.