Coteaux Varois en Provence
The Coteaux Varois en Provence wine-growing region is centrally located in the French wine-growing region of Provence . It is embedded in the Côtes de Provence appellation . The vineyards, which have had the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for short) since March 26, 1993 , cover 1,750 hectares of vineyards in 28 municipalities of the Var department . The wines, which are 60% rosé wine , 35% red wine and 5% white wine , are developed by 15 winegrowers' cooperatives and 62 self- marketing wineries . The areas are in the immediate vicinity of the city of Brignoles , a former seat of the Counts of Provence, and are at an altitude of 200 to 500 m , with the mean being 350 m. The areas of the municipalities of Pontévès, Néoules and Villecroze offer the highest quality potential. The area has a Mediterranean climate with an annual rainfall of 700–900 mm and an average sunshine duration of approx. 2900 hours / year.
In 2005, the name Coteaux varois was expanded to include the addition of en Provence . This should enable a better identification with the Provence region and open up better marketing opportunities for the wine.
In general, a harvest restriction of max. 55 hectoliters / hectare. The minimum alcohol content of the wines is 11% by volume.
- Red wine and rosé wine are made from at least two of the main grape varieties Cinsault , Mourvèdre , Syrah and Grenache . The combined proportion of these varieties is at least 80%. Furthermore, the varieties Carignan , Cabernet Sauvignon and Tibouren are permitted. Furthermore, max. 10% white grape varieties are included. Single-variety wines are not allowed in this appellation. A minimum of 20% of the rosé wine must be obtained using the saignée process. While the red wines can be stored for 3–5 years and should be drunk at a temperature of 15–16 ° C, the rosé wines are intended for quick enjoyment at a temperature of 8–10 ° C.
- The white wine is made from Vermentino (also called role here; its share is at least 30%), a maximum of 30% Sémillon , a maximum of 25% Ugni Blanc , and the secondary varieties Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc . The white wines should be enjoyed when they are young at a temperature of 8–10 ° C
Approved municipalities
Barjols , Bras , Brignoles , Brue-Auriac , Camps-la-Source , La Celle , Châteauvert , Forcalqueiret , Garéoult , Méounes-lès-Montrieux , Nans-les-Pins , Néoules , Ollières , Pontevès , Rocbaron , La Roquebrussanne , Rougiers , Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole , Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume , Saint-Zacharie , Salernes , Seillons-Source-d'Argens , Signes , Tavernes , Tourves , Le Val , Varages , Villecroze .
literature
- Hubrecht Duijker : The best wines - Rhône and southern France . Albert Müller Verlag, Zurich, Stuttgart, Vienna 1983, ISBN 3-275-00891-9 .
- Jancis Robinson : The Oxford Wine Lexicon . 2nd Edition. Hallwag , Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7742-0914-6 (886 pages, English: The Oxford companion to wine . Translated by Wolfgang Kissel).
- 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 .