Wine has been made in Provence
for at least 2,600 years, ever since the ancient Greeks founded the city of Marseille
in 600 BC. Throughout the region's
history, viticulture and wine-making have been influenced by the many cultures
that have been present in Provence, including the ancient Greeks, the Romans
and the Gauls to name a few. These
diverse groups introduced a large variety of grapes to the region, from Greece,
Italy and Spain as well as traditional French wine grapes.
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| Grape Vines in the Bandol Region |
Provence has a classic
Mediterranean climate, with the sea forming its southern border. Mild winters are followed by very warm
summers with little rainfall. Sunshine
is found in abundance in this region with the grapevines receiving more than
3,000 hours per year, twice the amount needed to ripen grapes fully. The ideal vineyard locations are on
hillsides facing south towards the sea, with the hill providing some shelter
from the mistral's strength.
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Ground Ready for Planting a New Generation of Grape Vines
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The Bandol wine region, located near the coast east of
Marseille and Cassis, is one of the most internationally recognized wines of
the Provence regions. Today the region
is known predominantly for its rosé wine, though in reality, the region's best
wines are its spicy, full-flavoured red wines which account for most of the
region’s production. White wine is also
produced in small quantities throughout the region.
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Bandol Red
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The AOC (Appellation d’Origine
Contrôlée) is produced by 8 communes with silicon & limestone soils. Those soils and the warm, coastal climate are
ideally suited for the late ripening Mourvèdre grape which is the major variety
for both the red and rosé wines. Mourvèdre
must account for at least 50% of the blend, though most producers will use
significantly more; with Grenache and Cinsaut (the latter
being used as a significant component in most rosé) usually completing the composition. Syrah and Carignan are restricted in Bandol to
a maximum of 15% of the blend or 10% individually. Nearly 70% of the production is red wine with
rosé and a small amount of white wine making up the remainder. Red Bandol wine is characterized by its dark
colour with rich flavours of black fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and usually requires
at least 10 years of aging before it fully develops. Some wine
is however produced to be drinkable in three years. Prior to release, the wine is required to age
at least 18 months in oak. The use of
mechanical harvesting is prohibited by the rules of the AOC
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Bandol AOC Wines
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I was privileged to visit a number
of the region’s vineyards, some of which are part of the vineyards we visit
during my yearly Food and Wine tours of Provence.
Chateau de Pibarnon
Overlooking
the Mediterranean and grown on undulating hills, the Pibarnon vineyard is
situated on the highest slopes of the soil of Bandol. On the hill stands the Pibarnon farmhouse, a
perfect replica of an 18th century Provençal farmhouse.
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| The Chateau de Pibarnon |
Above the farmhouse are ranks of vines up to a
height of 300 metres. The vines, are planted
on restanques, centuries-old terraces hand-built by generations of
"wall-builders.
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The Chateau de Pibarnon Vineyard
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The secret of Pibarnon's
wines lies in its local soil which perfectly regulates the flow of water to the
vineyard, a brilliant grape variety, Mourvèdre, and an altitude of more than
300 metres above sea level.
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| The holding Tanks Ready for the New Harvest |
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| Heading to the Degustation Room |
Chateau de Rochebelle
The Chateau de Rochebelle is a family winery run by
Hubert Jouve, his brother Dietrich and his sister Brunhild. The farm dates from 1840 and covers today an
area of 15 ha. It is located at la Cadière d’Azur in the Var, in the heart of the Bandol AOC. The production is divided into Bandol AOC and
Vin de Pays du Var and provides red and rosé wines from a responsible farming
and traditional respect for nature and the environment.
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| Chateau de Rochebelle |
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| Chateau de Rochebelle Cypress Alley |
A special feature of Chateau de Rochebelle wines is
the use of the Alicante grape variety, which gives highly coloured and alcoholic
wines.
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Rochebelle Estate Grape Vines Prior to Pruning
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Besides the architectural distinction of this noble
house, the Chateau de Rochebelle takes its name from the presence of a Roman
general tomb, which was surmounted by a huge stone lion. The lion is now the emblem of the property.
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| The Rochebelle Estate |
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| The Rochebelle Lion |
Domaine
de la Garenne
Having long been dedicated to wild rabbit hunting,
the land was devoted to viticulture by Count Jean de Balincourt. The estate covers 27 hectares of which 22
hectares are in (AOC).
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A Mourvèdre Grape Parcel at the Domaine de la Garenne
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On a clay and limestone soil, the vineyard is
mostly planted with Mourvèdre, Cinsaut and Grenache. The culture of the vine is provided by a
traditional tillage and manual grape harvest.
The Domaine de la Garenne produces 70% of rosé and 30% of red wine and occasionally
some white wine.
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| Beatrix de Ballincourt - Owner and Manager of the Domaine de la Garenne |
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| The Domaine de la Garenne Tasting Room |
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Red Wines from the Domaine de la Garenne
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Domaine Dupuy de Lôme
This
family estate is located in a magnificent 80-hectare natural amphitheatre. The 15-hectare vineyard enjoys a northerly
exposition. The Domaine doesn’t use any
chemical pesticides opting instead for a mechanised weeding process. In 2013, the Domaine gained its organic
label.
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Domaine Dupuy de Lome
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The
grapes are harvested manually and produce a Red Bandol made of 90% Mourvèdre,
and 10% Grenache. Their Bandol Rosé
comprises 70% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache and 10% Cinsaut. Very little white wine is produced at the
Domaine.
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| Holding Tanks at the Domaine Dupuy de Lome |
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Dupuy de Lome Wines Ready for Despatch
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Domaine Lou Capellan
This
Domaine is also a family venture since 1934 when the Silvestri family migrated
from Italy and settled in the region to cultivate and grow grapes.
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| Driveway to the Domaine Lou Capellan |
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Lou Capellan Grape Vines
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The
Domaine produces Reds, Rosés and whites in both Vins de Bandol and Vins de Pays
which do not require the stringent rules of the Bandol AOC appellation.
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| Domaine Lou Capellan Degustation Room |
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| Lady with the Grapes |
Moulin de la Roque
The
original Moulin de La Roque was located in a 16th century windmill. Founded in 1950, Le Moulin de La Roque cellar
was initially designed for the maturing of Bandol red wines for 18 months, a
requirement imposed by the appellation.
In
1964, through the efforts of the winegrowers and following numerous
investments, Le Moulin de La Roque became a wine production cellar for Bandol
wines. In 2006, the winery merged with
the Beausset site. In 2012, a new winery
was inaugurated on the exceptional Castellet site. Today, the company is made up of 200
winegrowers. The vineyards of Le Moulin de La Roque cover a total surface area of 310 hectares, 265 of which are in the Bandol appellation.
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| The Display and Sales Area at the Moulin de la Roque |
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| The Different Terroirs of the Bandol Region and the Wines they Produce |
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| The Oak Barrels Holding the Region's producers' Wines |
