Domaine de L'Abbaye - Franc PetitCuvée Sainte Claude Côtes de Provence

The wine region of Côtes de Provence

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.

The wine region of Provence

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.