Coteaux varois en Provence
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Accessory grape varieties
Cabernet-SauvignonCarignanTibourenClairette (Clairette Blanche)Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca)SemillonVermentino
Terroir
Natural factors
- Vineyard spread across 28 communes of the Var, enclosed by the Sainte-Baume massif (>1,000 m), the Canjuers plateaux, Mont Aurélien, and Sainte-Victoire.
- Argillaceous-limestone soils, "gravettes" (stony alluvial and colluvial deposits), and flint, underlain by Triassic formations.
- Vineyard sites between 350 m and 500 m in altitude; the limestone massifs block maritime influences, imparting a continental character.
- Rainfall of 700–900 mm per year, average temperature approximately 13 °C; winters are cooler than in the rest of Provence. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Exclusively calcareous or argillaceous-limestone soils on the floors of narrow valleys; distinct from the neighbouring appellations Côtes de Provence and Coteaux d'Aix.
Human factors
- Gallo-Roman remains at "Loou" (La Roquebrussanne) attest to a substantial ancient wine-growing operation and amphora-making workshop.
- Around a dozen permitted grape varieties, including cinsaut, grenache, mourvèdre, syrah, tibouren, and vermentino (known locally as rolle).
Product characteristics
- Reds: rich, silky tannins with fruity notes evolving towards spice and garrigue; excellent ageing potential (10+ years), pairing well with game and daube provençale.
Terroir / wine link
- Cool nights combined with hot summer days promote the full ripening of polyphenols, yielding rich yet refined tannins in the red wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.