8.3 Provence

Question 1

Summarise Provence

Answer 1

Region, synonymous with pale pink rose

• Maj Gren N, Cinsaut
• ~ 90% of Provence’s wine & 40% of France’s Rose wine

Also:

• Red; Gren N, Syrah, Cinsaut, Mourvedre, Carignon - a new focus
• White (small qty) Vermentino aka Rolle, Clairette
• VY plantings reduced due to competition for land for housing/tourism

Climate

• Warm Med, adeq rain 700mm pa; cool Mistral
• Best = Prominent hills for AOC wines (~400m); sheltered fm Mistral (fl & fr)
• High % of organic VY - easier due to climate
• Risk of drought - irrig needed,

VY

• Rose picked early for acid
• Bush trad (shade), VSP better can mgt, mech, achieve phenolic,sugar,acid ripeness (avoid bitter, but retain acid)

Question 2

Describe winemaking practices for Provence Rose.

Answer 2

• Pale colour - due to low col in var used
  
  • Cinsaut, GrenN, Tibouren
  • Regs allow 20% white in blend in practice <10% >> decr abv %
  • • Winemaking
  • Direct pressing –most common
  • Short maceration – a few hours
  • Or Saignee – ‘bleeding off’
  • During pressing the must may be
    
    • acidified to achieve good balance fruit-acid.
    • Chilled to 4ºC to reduce rate of oxidation & preserve colour
• Fermentation
  
  • ​Protective - SS, low temps 14-18º - avoid banana / preserve fruit
  • cultured/ambient yeast,
    
    • cultured > consistent fruity style & fast start so no off-flavours
  • AOC rules - ferment to dry > consistent style for the appellation.
  • MaloC routinely blocked - preserve acidity
• Finishing
  
  • deep colour corrected - carbon fining
• 2-3 mths on lees in SS tanks to retain fruit flavours OR 8-10m for texture
• Rarely – but some producers oak age their premium Roses (Ch. d’Esclans)

Question 3

Describe the Provence Appellations producing 95% of Provence Rose

Answer 3

Côtes de Provence AOC 55hl/ha (reality= 45)

• Largest AOC 90% Rose (R&W also allowed)
• Cinsaut, Gren N, Syrah, Tibouren
  
  • Wine must be a blend
  • 55 hl/ha - ave yield 45 hl

Cote de Provence St Victoire AOC 50hl/ha

Style: Pale pink-orange, l/m int raspberry, plum, herbal

• M acid, m body, m alc
• G/VG mid-prem price, some sprem

Coteaux Varois en Provence AOC & Coteaux d’Aix en Provence AOC (60hl/ha)

• Counoise is an additional principle var here.

ABOVE RESP FOR 95% Prod

Bandol AOC (40hl/ha)

• was prod more R than P, but lately more P
• 50% prod by Co-op
• VY on steep s-f slopes, protected from wind, steepest terraced >> (cost)
• Limestone, clay, infertile.
• Wines feature Mourvedre which can ripen in this very warm microclimate
  
  • R - 50 - 95% Mourvedre must be aged, oak 18m
  • P - must have 20 - 95% Mourvedre

Question 4

Exports of Provence - the 35% that is exported - is to where?

Answer 4

• 65% domestic (and the French still import more rose from Spain)
• 35% Export
  
  • USA ( ca50%); UK
  • Grown 1000% in value since 2000 & 500% in vol
• Co-ops are resp for 60% production in Var Dept
• Large negociants acc for 50% of production in Provence as a region.