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Traveling To France - The Wines of Provence
If you’re planning
to travel to the south of France in the near future,
think about including a trip to one of the vineyards
of the 60 winegrowers in the "Côtes de Provence"
region. A small, yet beautiful area, it takes in the
departments of the Var and part of the Bouches-du-Rhône.
An indigo sky, azure sea and miles of
white, sandy beaches welcome you to an area where limestone
cliffs and medieval villages give way to miles of sharply-scented
pine forests that provide shelter to tranquil lakes
and lazy rivers.
Whether you stay in a bustling, crowded
metropolis with all the modern conveniences, or a turn-of-the-century
country guest house filled with 17th and 18th century
antiques, in Provence your days will be filled with
sunshine and warmth, and lush nights, scented with jasmine,
lavender and wild thyme.
Perhaps because of the breathtaking
beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and the abundance of
tourist attractions found in Nice, Cannes and elsewhere
along the French Riviera, Provence is often overlooked
by companies that offer traditional wine tasting tours,
in spite of the excellence of its wines.
2600 years ago, the Phoenicians settled
in what is now France and created the first vineyards
to honor Bacchus (the God of wine). They left behind
a legacy of full-bodied wines that have a sparkle and
fullness that is as rich as the area they are grown
in.
In Provence, as everywhere in the Mediterranean,
you’ll find the people full of warmth, spontaneity
and a “joie de vivre”. As you will soon discover,
any of these master oenologists (winemakers) will be
delighted to introduce you to the wines they have become
famous for; and share a little of the region’s
history with you.
If you're very lucky, and your host
is in the right mood, he might even share some closely
guarded secrets of how to blend the right food with
exactly the right wine, something that most French winegrowers
are passionate about!
As it is throughout all of France, winemaking
in Provence is a serious business. Many of the winegrowers
here have won the rights to include the prestigious
“AOC” designation (Appellation d’Origine
Controlee) on their bottles of wines. This label assures
the buyer of a guaranteed vintage from the designated
region. In order to win the right to become designated
as an appellation wine, winegrowers much pass rigorous
tests and inspections.
This is a truly prestigious and coveted
award, as only the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris
can bestow the title of an AOC on a wine.
As you will discover from the first
delicious sip, the Côtes de Provence winegrowers
are experts in utilizing traditional methods when harvesting
and bottling their wines. Their deep respect for the
soil, the climate and the different varieties of grapes
they use comes through in the quality and taste of each
bottle.
Located in the heart of Provence’s
winemaking region, the “Maison des Côtes
de Provence” boasts an outstanding selection of
appellation wines.
If you’re not worried about the
thickness of your waist (or your wallet), a visit to
the four-star restaurant the “Bacchus Gourmand”
is a must, where you can savor real Provençal
cuisine accompanied (of course) by the perfect bottle
of a Côtes de Provence wine.
Or try sampling a home-cooked meal at
one of the many out of the way cafes you’ll find
tucked away on a narrow side street in any village,
where your host is also often your chef, and he will
be delighted to recommend a wine to you.
During your tour you can arrange to
take a wine tasting course at one of the vineyards where
you will learn a complete understanding of wine: its
robe (color), its bouquet (perfume), its body (strength)
and everything you need to know about service, conservation
etc.
A visit to Provence and a tour of some
of these wonderful vineyards and wineries -- and taking
home a bottle or two -- will be an experience to remember.
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