Alpilles

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Alpilles massif forms a barrier of calcareous or calcareous-marly rock stretching approximately thirty kilometres from east to west, north of the Bouches-du-Rhône department.
• The vineyards are planted on soils that are most often calcareous, very stony, and very free-draining, derived from slope deposits forming stony alluvial fans at the foot of the massif.
• Sunshine in the massif exceeds 2,800 hours per year, and rainfall is concentrated over only 70 to 80 days annually, mainly in autumn.
• The Mistral, a cool north to north-westerly wind channelled by the Rhône valley, strikes the Alpilles full force, accounting for 100 days of strong wind per year against only 83 days of light or calm conditions.
• The zone encompasses 33 communes situated within a triangle bounded to the west by the Rhône, to the east by the Durance, and to the south by the Crau, with Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at its centre.
• On the fringes of the massif lie soils of alluvial origin, some derived from ancient beds of the Rhône and its tributary the Durance, between Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Châteaurenard.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 25 novembre 2025, JORF 3 décembre 2025
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — Confédération des Vins IGP de France