Côtes de Provence

The Côtes de Provence appellation was created in 1895. In 1951, a commission of experts began work on defining the boundaries of the terroir, and in July 1955, a ministerial decree approved a classification of certain wines from the Côtes de Provence appellation. An AOC since 1977 (the Côtes de Provence were then only V.D.Q.S.), the Côtes de Provence constitute nearly 80% of the total area of Provence's vineyards, or 20,500 hectares for an annual production of 130 million bottles.

The Côtes de Provence appellation covers more than 20,000 hectares across three departments: Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, and an enclave in Alpes-Maritimes. The appellation stretches from the siliceous Maures massif to the hills and limestone plateaus that herald the Alps, passing through the red sandstone of the Toulon region. Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan, Tibouren, Syrah, Ugni, and Sémillon are used to make warm but very diverse wines. The majority of Côtes de Provence wines are rosés, which can be soft or lively. Alongside the lively reds, there are more elaborate, full-bodied, and robust reds. The enticing whites from the coast contrast with the dry, fruity whites from the northern vineyards.

Much to the chagrin of Bordeaux owners, 18 Côtes de Provence wine estates now benefit from the Cru Classé designation, including Domaine Sainte Roseline, Clos Mireille, and Château de Brégançon, to name but a few. Other estates are equally representative of the quality of the terroir: Château Minuty, Domaine Ott, Château Sainte Marguerite, Château Barbanau, Château Roubine, and Domaine de Saint Ser. Today, with its winemaking tradition, human expertise, grape varieties, terroir and climate, the Côtes de Provence appellation is a safe bet and a guarantee of quality for the 21st century.