Les Baux de Provence

The wines of the AOC les Baux-de-Provence are produced in eight villages on both sides of the Alpilles mountains. Gathered in an association and recognized since 1995 by an appellation d'origine contrôlée, the Vignerons des Baux-de-Provence have been united since their first vines by a common desire to preserve their unspoiled land, naturally protected and dried by the mistral wind.

Today, the Baux-de-Provence AOC is unique in that 85% of its geographical area is farmed organically or biodynamically. And for over ten years, the majority of winegrowers have been calling for this specificity to be incorporated into their appellation's decrees, enabling them to become France's first organic AOC for wine. The new specifications, approved on April 1, 2009, have not fulfilled the winegrowers' wishes, but the debate is open with the INAO.

Baux-de-Provence wines are produced on a terroir of very stony soils, in the form of glacis, alluvial fans, scree or lithic sandstone. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild, dry winters and hot, dry summers. The Les Baux-de-Provence appellation produces red, rosé and white wines. Domaine Hauvette, Château Romanin and Mas de la Dame are fine examples of the appellation's producers.