Bellet

Overview of the wine-growing regions of Provence

Bellet is a small wine-growing region in the east of the Provence wine-growing region in France . The vineyards are located in the Alpes-Maritimes department above Nice , but within the municipal boundaries in the districts of les Séoules , le Pilon , le Grand-Bois , Golfan , les Cappan , Saint-Roman-de-Bellet , la Tour , Candau , Saquier , Saint-Sauveur , Gros-Pin , Serre-Long , Crémat , Mont-Bellet (Cantagalet) , Li Puncia and Lingestiera . The 39.9 hectare area has had the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for short) since November 11, 1941 . Bellet has some of the oldest vineyards in France, as the vineyards were laid out back in the time of the Phokians . Around 800 to 1100 hl of wine are produced annually, consisting of 30% white wine , 30% rosé wine and 40% red wine . Due to the small amount, the wines are hard to find outside of Nice and have a high price (at least € 12 to € 15 / bottle).

Climate diagram of Nice

Red wine : The main grape varieties used are Braquet Noir , Folle Noir (also called Fuella) and Cinsault . In addition (max. 40%), Grenache Noir and all white grape varieties that are used in local white wine may be used to a small extent . The minimum alcohol content is 10.5 °.

Rosé wine : The main grape varieties used are Braquet Noir , Folle Noir (also called Fuella) and Cinsault . In addition (max. 40%) Grenache , Roussanne , Rolle , Spagnol (also called Mayorquin), Clairette Blanche , Pignerol Blanc and Bourboulenc may be used to a small extent . The minimum alcohol content is 10.5 °.
White wine : The main grape varieties used are Roussanne, Rolle (this is how Vermentino is called here), Spagnol (also called Mayorquin). In addition (max. 40%) Clairette, Bourboulenc, Chardonnay , Pignerol and Muscat blanc may be used to a small extent . The minimum alcohol content is 11 °.

literature

Jancis Robinson : The Oxford Wine Lexicon . Gräfe and Unzer Verlag, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7742-0914-6 .
Pierre Galet : Cépages et Vignobles de France . Lavoisier Publishing House, Paris 2004, ISBN 2-7430-0585-8 .
Benoît France: Grand Atlas des Vignobles de France . Éditions SOLAR publishing house, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-263-03242-8 .