Côtes de Provence AOC

AOC area in the east of the French wine-growing region of Provence with about four fifths of the area. In the west are the two AOC areas Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Prov ence. The vineyards cover around 20,000 hectares in the three départements of Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône and Var. Three different soil types and a large number of permitted grape varieties also result in different wine styles. Around 80% of the production is rosé wines, which are bottled in a special, cone-shaped bottle. Red wine and rosé are blended from at least two and in total at least 80% of the main varieties Cinsaut, Grenache Noir (Garnacha Tinta), Mourvèdre (Monastrell), Syrah and Tibouren, the secondary varieties Barbaroux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pécoui Touar (Calitor Noir) and Carignan Noir (Mazuelo), as well as a maximum of 10% white varieties. The white wines are produced from the Clairette, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano) and Rolle (Vermentino) varieties. A sub-appellation created in 2005 is Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire, which comprises seven communes on the foothills of the mountain that gives it its name. It applies only to rosé and red wines.

Well-known producers are Domaine de l'Abbaye, Domaine la Bernarde, Domaine de La Courtade, Château de Garcinières, Domaine Gavoty, Domaine de la Jeanette, Château de Maravenne, Château Minuty, Domaine Ott, Commanderie de Peyrassol, Domaine des Planes, Domaine Rabiéga, Château Real Martin, Château Requier, Domaine Richeaume, Domaine de Rimauresq, Domaine Saint-André de Figuière, Château Sainte-Roseline, Domaine Siouvette, Domaine Tropez Beraud and Domaine Turenne.