Wines made from Folle blanche grapes of Provence
Discover the best wines made with Folle blanche as a single variety or as a blend of Provence.
As its name suggests, the folle blanche is a white grape variety. Originally from the west of France, it was used to make Cognac and Armagnac brandies as early as the 17th century and was renowned for its finesse and fragrant nose. Replaced by Ugni Blanc following the phylloxera invasion, the folle blanche is now grown in small quantities. It is a grape variety with juicy, sweet, medium-sized bunches and berries with a white/green skin. Its worst enemy is grey rot. As it is an early variety and its buds come out early, it is particularly afraid of spring frosts. It likes short pruning, a method that limits the production of grapes but increases their quality. It also prefers mineral-rich soils, and its vineyards cover about 3,000 hectares. It is used in the production of the AOC Gros-plant du Pays nantais to produce a lively white wine with little alcohol but marked acidity.
Provence is a wine region in the far southeast of France, best known for the quality (and quantity) of its rosé wines and for its Warm, mild Climate. The modernization that is taking place in many of the traditional wine regions of southern France has not yet taken place to the same extent in Provence, but there are Clear signs of change. The region's Grape varieties, in particular, have come under scrutiny in recent decades. Traditional varieties such as Carignan, Barbaroux (Barbarossa from Sardinia) and Calitor are being replaced by more commercially viable varieties such as Grenache, Syrah and even Cabernet Sauvignon.