Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

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Overview of the wine-growing regions of Provence

The wine-growing region Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence is located in the west of the French wine-growing region Provence . The large appellation Côtes de Provence connects to the east . The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence appellation is named after the city ​​of Aix-en-Provence , north of Marseille . To the southeast of this city is the small appellation Palette . The area is bounded by the Durance River to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south . In the west, the Rhône defines the theoretical limit of the area, while in the east the conspicuous mountain of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire is the visible limit. In fact, the vineyards end in the west at Eygalières, where the area overlaps to the west with the appellation Les Baux-de-Provence .

The mean duration of sunshine is 2900 hours / year, and the amount of precipitation is as low as 550–680 mm / year. Precipitation falls mainly in spring and autumn. Large parts of the area are subject to the influence of the Mistral wind .

Within France, the wine of the appellation achieved great fame under the "winemaker king" and Count of Provence René von Anjou (Count of Provence), as René introduced the wine to the French royal court.

On December 24, 1985 , after a long struggle, the area received the status of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée .

The vineyards cover around 3,800 hectares of vineyards in 49 municipalities which, with two exceptions, are in the Bouches-du-Rhône department . The area is traversed by chains of hills running parallel to the Mediterranean coast, such as the Alpilles . Viticulture is practiced in the depressions in between.

In general, the yields are limited to max. 60 hectoliters / hectare restricted. On an annual average, the 14 wine cooperatives and 74 self-marketing wineries produce around 180,000 hectoliters of wine, which is divided as follows:

15% of the production is exported. The most important export markets are Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The red wine and the rosé wine are made from the main grape variety Grenache , a maximum of 40% Syrah , Cinsault , Counoise and / or Mourvèdre and a maximum of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and / or Carignan . The determination thus enables only single-origin Grenache wines. The minimum alcohol content is 11% by volume.

The white wine is made from the grape varieties Bourboulenc , Vermentino , Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc . The maximum proportion of a variety is limited to 70%. In addition to these four types, max. 40% the Ugni Blanc variety and max. 30% the varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon are used. The minimum alcohol content is 11% by volume.

Approved municipalities

In the Bouches-du-Rhône department : Aix-en-Provence , Alleins , Aurons , La Barben , Les Baux-de-Provence , Berre-l'Étang , Charleval , Châteauneuf-les-Martigues , Cornillon-Confoux , Coudoux , Eguilles , Ensuès-la-Redonne , Eygalières , Eyguières , La Fare-les-Oliviers , Fontvieille , Gignac-la-Nerthe , Istres , Jouques , Lamanon , Lambesc , Lançon-Provence , Mallemort , Martigues , Maussane-les-Alpilles , Meyrargues , Mouriès , Paradou , Pelissanne , Peyrolles-en-Provence , Port-de-Bouc , Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade , Rognac , Rognes , Saint-Cannat , Saint-Chamas , Saint-Estève-Janson , Saint-Étienne-du-Grès , Saint-Marc-Jaumegarde , Saint-Mitre-les-Remparts , Saint-Rémy-de-Provence , Salon-de-Provence , Vauvenargues , Velaux , Venelles , Ventabren and Vernègues .

In the Var department : Artigues and Rians .

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 .