Côtes de Provence

The Côtes de Provence appellation was established in 1895. As early as 1951, a commission of experts began defining the appellation’s terroir, and in July 1955, a ministerial decree officially approved a classification of certain wines within the Côtes de Provence appellation. An A.O.C. since 1977 (at that time, Côtes de Provence wines were merely V.D.Q.S.), the Côtes de Provence region accounts for nearly 80% of the total vineyard area in Provence, covering 20,500 hectares and producing 130 million bottles annually.

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

Much to the chagrin of Bordeaux winegrowers, 18 Côtes de Provence estates now bear the “Cru Classé” designation, including Domaine Sainte Roseline, Clos Mireille, and Château de Brégançon, to name just a few. Other estates are by no means out of place in terms of the terroir’s quality: Château Minuty, Domaine Ott, Château Sainte Marguerite, Château Barbanau, Château Roubine, and Domaine de Saint Ser. Today, with its winemaking tradition, the expertise of its winemakers, its grape varieties, and the advantages of its terroir and climate, the Côtes de Provence appellation is a sure bet and a guarantee of quality for the 21st century.