Cassis

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographic zone forms an amphitheatre open to the Mediterranean, ringed by reefal limestone and dolomitic ridges, including the Turonian cliffs of Cap Canaille rising to 416 metres.
• The heart of the amphitheatre consists of wooded hills and small elongated depressions oriented south-west to north-east, carved into the argilo-calcareous formations of the Cenomanian.
• The climate records an average annual sunshine total of 3,000 hours and mean annual rainfall of 670 millimetres, with precipitation distributed irregularly throughout the year, as is typical across the Mediterranean zone.
• The north-facing closed amphitheatre topography shelters the vineyard from the influence of the Mistral, a cold, dry, and occasionally violent wind that shapes the climate of neighbouring vineyards, while the zone remains open to maritime breezes that moderate the excesses of the Provençal climate in summer.
• The vineyard, planted on well-drained argilo-calcareous soils, ranges from approximately 10 to 150 metres in altitude and is largely cultivated on terraces known as restanques, particularly in the valley laid out as a series of broad steps.

• King René of Anjou, Count of Provence, is credited with introducing the muscatel grape variety to Cassis upon his return to Provence following the loss of the Kingdom of Naples in 1442.
• Around 1520, the Florentine Albizzi family settled in Cassis and introduced new muscat varieties, which they planted extensively, a development also mentioned by Wikipedia around the same date.
• After the devastation caused by phylloxera, the vineyard was replanted without muscatel or mourvèdre, which were deemed unable to deliver consistent quality on the rootstocks then in use.
• The Cassis vineyard was recognised as one of the very first appellations d'origine contrôlées, by decree dated 15 May 1936.

• The white wines, which account for approximately 70% of production, are dry and round, with complex aromas showing floral, fruity, and balsamic notes; they are generally enjoyed young but can be kept for two to three years.
• The proximity of the sea gives the white wines an iodine character and an almost saline freshness, making them 'vins de bouche' that accompany bouillabaisse, shellfish, or fish soup.

• The combination of a dry mesoclimate tempered by the sea, the amphitheatre topography, and the argilo-calcareous soils provides the vineyard with ripening conditions that are favourable to all grape varieties, and particularly to clairette and marsanne.
• The combined effects of sunshine, temperature ranges limited by maritime influence, and the shelter afforded by the hillsides allow these varieties to produce grapes with a distinctive structure–aroma–acidity balance.

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 5 décembre 2025, JORF 18 décembre 2025
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVP