Day 5 | Côtes de Provence AOC
Light, Dry, Unmistakable
From the limestone foothills north of Aix to the pine‑fringed coves of Saint‑Tropez, Côtes de Provence is France’s largest rosé appellation and perhaps the global reference point for pale‑pink, summer‑fresh wine. The combination of 3,000 hours of sun, cooling sea breezes, and mosaic of schist, limestone, and sandy soils gives growers a wide palette, yet the style remains unmistakable. Delicate colour, crisp red‑berry fruit, and a salty finish that hits every time.
What You’ll Taste
Primary Notes – Redcurrant, white peach, strawberry cream, and a hint of melon.
Acidity – Light salinity and medium (+) acidity.
Texture / Tannin – Very low tannin. Almost silky palate that finishes dry and refreshing.
Upgrade to Daily Terroir’s premium subscription for less than $3 a month
Terroir & Winemaking Deep Dive
Côtes de Provence covers roughly 20,000 hectares split across limestone ridges inland, crystalline schist in the Massif des Maures, and pockets of red volcanic sandstone nearer the coast. Grenache and Cinsault dominate for their soft fruit and pale extraction. Syrah and Mourvèdre add colour, pepper, and backbone, while the local Tibouren lends a herbal nuance around Saint‑Tropez.
Grapes are harvested at night, chilled, and either direct‑pressed or given a brief 2 to 3 hour maceration. Fermentation runs cool (14 °C) in stainless steel under inert gas to lock in aroma, with many estates leaving the wine on fine lees for a month or two to build mid‑palate. The result is a bone‑dry rosé typically bottled before the next spring, though top cuvées - often from single “terroirs” such as Pierrefeu or Sainte‑Victoire - gain complexity after a year or two, showing notes of jasmine, fennel seed, and wet stone.
Producers to Visit
Château d’Esclans – “Whispering Angel” sets the modern benchmark. “Garrus” shows just how serious Provençal rosé can be.
Domaines Ott* – Clos Mireille’s sea‑sprayed schist gives citrus‑salt. Château de Selle offers more floral depth.
Château Minuty – Estate bottlings blend red berry with subtle herbs from Tibouren.
Travel Spotlight – Exploring the Var & Gulf of Saint‑Tropez
Stay – Château de Berne (Lorgues) A 500 hectare wine estate with rooms, spa, and hiking trails through vines and olive groves.
Dine – Le Relais des Moines (Les Arcs) One‑star Provençal restaurant. Imagine Mediterranean sea bass with fennel alongside a single‑parcel Côtes de Provence rosé.
Swirl – Plage de Pampelonne Find a quiet spot at dawn, and watch the sun lift over the bay to start the day.
Quiz
How do limestone and schist soils influence the fruit profile and acidity of Côtes de Provence rosé?
Why might Tibouren be blended to fine‑tune the final wine?