Côtes de Provence : The best rosés of the world !

« The production of Rosé has long been a specialty in Provence, and an art of living. »

The Côtes de Provence appellation has been officially registered since 1977. It is known to be the star appellation for rosé as it represents 90% of the wine produced in Côtes de Provence.

The AOP Côtes de Provence appellation
The vineyards of Provence, stretching over 200 kms from the Mediterranean to the Alps, are divided into three appellations: Coteaux Varois en Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and Côtes de Provence.

The Côtes de Provence appellation covers 20,000 hectares, or 84 villages, from the Bouches-du-Rhône to the Alpes Maritimes via the Var. The appellation is known and recognised for its rosés. It is the world's leading rosé producing region with an average production of 962,000 hectolitres per year, or 128 million bottles.

There are 372 private cellars in the Côtes de Provence appellation as well as 38 cooperative cellars.

The Terroir in Côtes de Provence
The terroir of the Côtes de Provence appellation is marked by a complex geology. There are two main geological units: one is limestone (to the north and west) and the other is crystalline (to the south and east). This variety of terroirs gives way to several types of Côtes de Provence, each with its own unique geological and climatic personality.

There are 5 main natural areas in the appellation: the maritime border, the inland valley, the hills of the Haut Pays, the Beausset basin and the Sainte-Victoire mountain. Among these large areas, there are 5 terroir designations: Sainte-Victoire, Fréjus, La Londe, Notre Dame des Anges and Pierrefeu. These terroir classifications correspond to the official recognition by the INAO of the typicity of the wines and the terroir.

Grape varieties in Côtes de Provence
In Provence, the blending of different grape varieties is a very old winemaking tradition. For red and rosé wines, the specifications of the appellation impose a list of main grape varieties as well as a list of secondary grape varieties.

Main grape varieties: Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Tibouren
Secondary grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Clairette, Semillon, Ugni Blanc and Vermentino (Rolle).
The main grape varieties must represent at least 70% of the vineyard and grape varieties such as Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Sémillon and Vermentino (Rolle) may not exceed 20% of the vineyard.

For the white wines of the Côtes de Provence appellation, the approved grape varieties are Vermentino, Clairette, Sémillon and Ugni Blanc.