Wines From The Côte De Provence

If you are looking for villa rentals in the south of France, the chances are that you have a at least a passing interest in wine! In this short guide we identify the key facts about wine production in Provence and identify a few ways of furthering your knowledge by means of wine festivals and connoisseur's events.

In keeping with the sunlight and warmth of the sunny seacoast of the Côte de Provence, the most popular wine produced in this region of southeast France are the r­osé wines. About seventy to eighty percent of the wine production in the department of Var is of the r­osé variety, red wines account for only fifteen percent of the output of vineyards in the area, with whites making up the balance. All the wines in this area are entitled to use the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) Côte de Provence for wines made at their wineries.

A wide range of grape varieties are grown and blended to create the unique, original flavors of the Côte de Provence wines, including Cinsaut, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Tibouren. Most vintners in the region are reducing the volume of Carignan grapes used in their wines, while the addition of such grapes as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon is on the rise.

The ideal time for wine lovers to visit Côte de Provence in order to experience the finest wine tasting offered in the region is from the end of May to early October. Several wine festivals take place during this interval, including "Get Acquainted with R­osé (Les rencontres de r­osé) at the end of May. Along with tastings of r­osé wines ranging from ethereal to robust are many competitions between gourmet chefs to create dishes that will complement the floral, fruity and nutty notes of the season's just-released production. The wines of this part of the Côte de Provence are pale pink, with a zesty taste, which reveals itself most strongly when well chilled, at 45 degrees F.

Another event wine connoisseurs will want to attend in late August is the Grape Festival at Fréjus, at the northeastern tip of the Côte de Provence, near the end of the growing season for Cinsaut, Syrah, and Grenache grapes in this area. Côte de Provence Fréjus r­osé wines most often are salmon-pink in color, and are very aromatic. Their notes include spices like pepper and vanilla, and some florals such as orange blossom.

Farther along the coast, where the Sainte-Baume Mountains shelter the southern Var from changeable Mediterranean winds, a slightly cooler climate pushes the grape-ripening season into early November. This climate has encouraged some vintners such as Louis Latour to begin cultivating Pinot Noir grapes for Burgundy-type wines, introducing yet another flavor to the Côteaux Varois AOC wines. Côteaux Varois wines are noted for their vivid pink color and fresh taste, with subtle notes of berries, spices and herbs.

Visitors to the Côte de Provence are recommended to bring a hearty appetite and a camera as well as a palate eager for fine vintages. In terms of accommodation, there are many companies offering both luxury, as well as more affordable, villa rentals in the south of France. Most of these have their own pools, gated access and parking either nearby or in a spacious garage.

By: Alok88

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