Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical area extends from the Durance in the north to the Mediterranean in the south, and from the Rhône valley in the west to the Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the east, covering 47 communes of the Bouches-du-Rhône and 2 communes of the Var.
• Three eroded mountain chains run east to west: the Chaîne de la Nerthe (or de l'Estaque), the Chaîne de la Fare, and the Chaînon des Costes extended by the Vernegues horst.
• The marly limestone ridges of the Trévaresse and Eguilles resulted from the uplift of an ancient north–south depression running from the city of Aix-en-Provence to the Durance.
• The zone benefits from 2,900 hours of sunshine per year and is subject to the effects of the Mistral, a cold, dry wind that is particularly frequent in April, while being relatively sheltered from this wind by the hill chains to the north (the Trévaresse and the Luberon).
• Annual rainfall ranges between 550 and 680 millimetres, distributed irregularly and concentrated mainly in spring and autumn.
• Viticultural activity is located either on marly-limestone formations yielding stony soils with a clay-silt matrix, or on molasse and sandstone formations with very sandy or stony sandy-silt soils.

• The Greek founders of Massilia introduced grape varieties such as ugni blanc, as well as the practices of vine pruning and grape pressing, in the surroundings of the Phocaean city.
• The appellation d'origine vin délimité de qualité supérieure was recognised on 23 January 1956, after which the AOC Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence was established by decree on 24 December 1985.

• On the nose, the red wines show floral notes of violet or vegetal notes of hay, bay leaf and tobacco, evolving towards hints of cinnamon or fur.
• The red wines may reach their full potential after 2 to 3 years of bottle ageing, these characteristics being achieved after ageing extending at least to 15 April of the year following the harvest.
• The rosé wines display a pale pink colour with bright highlights and are mainly consumed in their youth.

• The sunny, warm Mediterranean climate, ventilated by the Mistral, favours the development of a demanding grape variety mix that brings quality and identity to the wines.
• Grenache contributes alcoholic richness and roundness, cinsaut finesse and elegance, syrah fruity aromas, and mourvèdre good ageing potential.

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 6 décembre 2019 publié au JORF du 8 décembre 2019, JORF 8 décembre 2019
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVP