Provence Flashcards
Basic Facts
90% Rose
40% of all FR Rose
Small volumes of red Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Carignan
Very small amount of white from Rolle (vermentino) and Clairette
Grape Varieties
Grenache 37% Cinsault 17% Syrah 17% Carignan 7% Vermentino 6% Cab Sauv 6%
Climate
Warm Mediterranean
Adequate rainfall in most years
Cold Mistral wind can provide a cooling influence and helps reduce fungal disease
But these cold winds can also interrupt flowering and fruit set
Best sites are sheltered from this wind
Altitudes up to 400m in inland sites also provide a moderating influence on warm temps
Vineyard Management
Traditional bush vines being replaced by trellising
Grapes for rose are picked earlier to retain acidity
If the wine is to be made by short maceration then it’s important that the tannins are sufficiently ripe to avoid bitterness
Harvest date is important to ensure fruit ripeness and retain acidity
Winemaking
Pale color is from the pale color of Grenache, Cinsault and Tibouren
AOC allows up to 20% white varieties though typically less than 10% if used
Fruit handled protectively (no oxygen, cool temps) to preserve primary fruit and pale color
Either direct press or short maceration (a few hours) on the skins
Fermentation in stainless
Cultured yeast for consistent fruity style or ambient
14 - 18C (top end of cool, lower end of mid) to preserve fruit but avoid banana
Must be fermented to dry
Malo typ blocked to retain acidity and primary fruit
May fine if color too deep
Stored 2- 3 months on lees in stainless
A few use oak aging such as Ch d’Esclans
Appellations
Cotes de Provence Coteaux Varois en Provence Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Les Baux de Provence Bandol Bellet Cassis Palette
Cotes de Provence
20,000 ha
90% rose
Rose: Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Tibouren
Wine must be a blend
55hl/ha max with avg of 45
Some sub zones: Cotes de Provence Sainte Victoire (50hl/ha)
Pale pink-orange
light to med intensity raspberry, red plum, herbs
med acid, body, alcohol
Good to very good and wide range of prices
Coteaux Varois en Provence
Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
Similar to Cotes de Provence
Max 60hl/ha
Counoise is also a principal variety in addition to the others
Another 5% of production
Les Baux de Provence
Close to the Rhone river
Mostly red wines from GSM
These must be 60% of blend
Bandol
Produces more red than Rose But Rose overtaking in volume South facing terraces, protected from wind 600ha (down from 1,400) Competition from land and cost / difficulty of slopes Typically Mourvedre which can ripen in this warm microclimate Reds must be 50% - 95% Mourvedre Roses must be 20% - 95% 40hl/ha Dom Tempier Good to very good with some outstanding Mid to super
Other Appellations
Bellet Cassis for white Palette mostly by Ch. Simone All on the coast and under land devel pressure. Tourists drink it
Wine Business
65% in FR; supermarkets and cellar door
FR drinks 35% of the world’s rose also largest importer (SP)
Top export is USA 50%; UK 13%
Exports up 500% in vol / 1,000 in val since 2000
Lifestyle marketing, celebrity (Miraval)
Coops still important
