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Wines and vineyards of the Vaucluse
Whether red, rosé or white, there are many wines in Provence, especially at the foot of the Ventoux and along the Rhône.
Imagine that within a radius of about thirty kilometers you can discover the Côtes du Ventoux but also the most prestigious Côtes du Rhône wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape of course, but also Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Sablet, Rasteau, Cairanne...
Châteauneuf du Pape, one of the most prestigious wines.
The Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyard is one of the oldest in the Rhone Valley and one of the most prestigious in the world.
This wine gained its notoriety thanks to the Popes who lived in the region. They discovered that the sun-drenched soil and the emblematic rolled stones produced exceptional wines.
Its emblematic castle was for a long time the summer residence of the papacy as well as of royalty.
With its 3,200 hectares of vines, its four types of soil and its 13 grape varieties, to come and discover Châteauneuf du Pape is to immerse yourself in the history and art of wine making.
Visit the Brotte wine museum: The Brotte wine museum
L'appellation "Côtes du Rhone"
The "Côtes du Rhône" AOC covers no less than 171 villages and rich and varied terroirs;
Officially created in 1937, there are written records dating back to the Middle Ages proving that vines were already grown in the region.
You can organise many memorable visits and wine-tourism outings.
Everything you need to know about Côtes du Rhône wines: Web site inter Rhône
L'appellation "AOC Ventoux"
The wines of Ventoux have a AOC since 1973.
Geographically, the terroir extends from Calavon to the Dentelles de Montmirail, on the slopes of Ventoux on the Comtat Venaissin side.
The main grape varieties of this terroir are Grenache and Syrah. The production represents 269,578 hectolitres, mostly red wines, but whites and rosés are increasingly produced and appreciated.
Numerous activities are offered in the many estates around Mont Ventoux.
Activities and wine discovery: Web site Vignerons du Mont Ventoux
The harvest in Vaucluse
At the end of August, the fever takes hold of the region. The harvest begins. A noria of small tractors shuttle between the vines and the wine-making cellars (cooperatives or private cellars). It is necessary to go quickly and to harvest at the best moment, so that the sugar content of the fruit is perfect.
A lot of harvesting is still done manually, but tractors are also used. This is also the case for the exceptional terroirs where manual harvesting is obligatory and where the hand of man is a guarantee of superior quality.
Good to know: above 16° of alcohol, a wine can no longer be considered as a wine, but will be classified as a spirit or liqueur categorie.
Le Muscat de Beaumes de Venise
This natural sweet wine of worldwide reputation is made only from the Muscat à petits grains grape variety. The vineyard extends over centuries-old terraces once populated by olive trees. Some of them are still there, which seem to watch over the blossoming of the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.
Vines were developed in Gallo-Roman times, and it was Pope Clement V, a fine wine connoisseur, who had a 70-hectare muscadière planted on the slopes.
Today the vineyard covers an area of 814 hectares and the average yield is 16 hectoliters/hectare. This mellow wine will go wonderfully well with sweet and sour food, sweet spices, foie gras, and of course melon.
Recipe idea : Curry de porc à la mangue
Discover the wines and vineyards with Bea's Escape in Provence
Take the time during your holydays in Provence to organize an escapade to discover the wines and the gastronomy.
From the discovery of wines and domains, the food and wine associations, the bike ride in the vineyards, to the picnic in the lavender fields, Beatrice will accompany you and guide you throughout your excursion, so that Provence will no longer hold any secrets for you.
All excursions here: Bea's Escape in Provence