The AOC Côtes de Provence is the largest appellation in the Provence wine region of southeastern France. It covers about 20,000 hectares of vineyards, which produce the vast majority of Provence's rosé wine. This appellation includes most of the vineyards in the Var department - essentially the eastern half of the Provence wine region - with the exception of 2,250 hectares North of Toulon which are reserved for the Côteaux Varois en Provence appellation. Although it also covers red and white wine, about 80% of Côtes de Provence production is rosé.
This wine is mainly made from the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut grapes, as well as the quintessential Provence red Tibouren. Although clearly a minority, the Volume of red wine produced under this title (and elsewhere in Provence) is increasing and currently represents about 15% of the total. Grapes such as the three key Rhone varieties mentioned above and Cabernet Sauvignon (introduced here in the 1960s) are being used by a New wave of winemakers eager to demonstrate that rosé is not the only interesting wine in the region. Only about five percent of Côtes de Provence wines are made from white grapes, particularly Rolle (Vermentino).
Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest red grape varieties in Bordeaux. The Libourne region is its terroir where it develops best. The terroirs of Saint-Emilion and Fronsac allow it to mature and develop its best range of aromas. It is also the majority in many blends. The very famous Château Cheval Blanc, for example, uses 60% Cabernet Franc. The wines produced with Cabernet Franc are medium in colour with fine tannins and subtle aromas of small red fruits and spices. When blended with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, it brings complexity and a bouquet of aromas to the wine. It produces fruity wines that can be drunk quite quickly, but whose great vintages can be kept for a long time. It is an earlier grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that it is planted as far north as the Loire Valley. In Anjou, it is also used to make sweet rosé wines. Cabernet Franc is now used in some twenty countries in Europe and throughout the world.
red wines from the region of Côtes de Provence go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or spicy food such as recipes of millet with gruyere cheese, leg of lamb in butterfly (barbecue) or coral lentil dahl.
