Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence is one of the main French appellations in the Provence wine region, located in the extreme southeast of the country. It is the second largest appellation in the region, with about 4,000 hectares North and west of Aix-en-Provence - the town from which it takes its name. The area also bears the tiny title of AOCPalette. The Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence appellation was first introduced as a VDQS in 1956, having been informally known as Côteaux du Roy René (René d'Anjou being a 15th century French king famous for his love of wine and the Vine).
Full AOC status was granted in December 1985. The wines of Côteaux d'Aix-en-Provence are, in that order of importance, rosé, red and white wines. The rosés and reds are made from a Complex blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut and Counoise, with Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon making up to 30% of these blends. The white wine of the appellation is made from an equally complex hierarchy of grape varieties, both local and borrowed.
Rolle is a white grape variety of Turkish origin that has become established in the South of France, particularly in the Var region, in Corsica under the name of Vermentinu, and in Italy. Its bunches and berries, of medium size, change from white to pink when the grapes are ripe. The rolle likes hot climates where the soil is dry and poor. On the other hand, it fears the wind and diseases. It produces fat, well-balanced white wines. These wines may lack acidity, but they are still very aromatic and give off notes of grapefruit, white fruit, white flowers, fennel, etc. Rolle is also a good table grape that can be enjoyed both fresh and dry. Present in Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon and Corsica. It is used in the composition of numerous appellations such as Ajaccio, Patrimonio, Bandol, Coteaux-d'Aix-en-Provence, Côtes-de-Provence, Costières-de-Nîmes, Corbières, Collioure, Côtes-de-Roussillon, Minervois, Saint Chinian...
red wines from the region of Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or spicy food such as recipes of sweet and sour turkish dumpling soup (eksili köfte), rack of lamb with antiboise sauce or crab matoutou.
On the nose in the region of Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence often reveals types of flavors of red fruit.
