Luberon AOC

Côtes du Luberon is a wine-growing AOC in the southeastern extreme of the Rhône wine region of France, where the wines are produced in 36 communes of the Vaucluse département. The neighbouring appellation of Côtes de Ventoux AOC stretches along its northern border and is separated by the Calavon river. The southern limit of the region is marked by the Durance river.

Detailed map of the Rhône wine region, with separate maps of Southern Rhône ("Zoom A") and Northern Rhône ("Zoom B").

LUBERON (wine region)
Official name	Côtes du Luberon AOC
Appellation type	AOC
Year established	1988
Years of wine industry	2,000
Country	France
Part of	Rhône Valley
Climate region	mediterranean
Soil conditions	calcerous marl, Miocene sands and molasse
Planted area (ha)	2,712
Yield (hl/ha)	50
Yield (hl)	101,868
No. of vineyards	450
Wine produced	red, white, rosé
Key	ha: hectares, hl: hectolitres, hl/ha: hectolitres per hectare

Wines

Red wines are made from Grenache Noir and Syrah , 60%, (of which Syrah minimum 10%), Cinsault maximum 20%, Mourvèdre Carignan, maximum 20% other accepted varieties are: Counoise Noir, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir

Rosé: The same varieties are used as for the red, and up to 20% of the allowed varieties for white wine may be used.

White wines from Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, maximum 50%, Roussanne and Marsanne together to a maximum of 20%.

The minimum alcohol for all three colours is decreed at 11%.

The reds are well balanced and flexible, the rosé fresh and nervous, and the whites are fresh and well rounded. All wines are generally consumed while they are still young.

Economy

The Côtes du Luberon wines are produced by a total of 495 concerns which include 480 growers, 55 private wineries, 14 cooperative wineries, and one producer/merchant. The vinyards are in the communes of Ansous, Apt, Bastide-des-Jourdans, Bastidonne, Beaumont de Pertuis, Bonnieux, Cabrières d'Aigues, Cadenet, Castellet, Cheval-Blanc, Cucuron, Goult, Gramboios, Lacoste, Lauris, Loumarin, Maubec, Mènerbes, Mèrindol, Mirabeau, Motte d'Aigues, Puget, Puyvert, Robion, Saignon, Saint Martin de Castillon, Saint Martin de la Brasque, Sannes, Taillades, Tour d'Aigues, Vaugines, Villelaure, Vitrolles en Luberon.

See also

• French wine