Hidden Jewel of France – Provence

By KC Kudra

If you are planning to travel to the south of France in the near future, think about including a trip to one of the vineyards of the 60 winegrowers in the “Ctes de Provence” region. A small, yet beautiful area, it takes in the departments of the Var and part of the Bouches-du-Rhne.

Azure seas, miles of sandy, white beaches adorned by an indigo sky awaits you, merged together with limestone cliffs and old-world villages that give way to scented pine forests that shelter tranquil lakes and lazy, winding rivers.

Whether you stay in a bustling, crowded metropolis with all the modern conveniences, or a turn-of-the-century country guest house filled with 17th and 18th century antiques, in Provence your days will be filled with sunshine and warmth, and lush nights, scented with jasmine, lavender and wild thyme.

Perhaps because of the breathtaking beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and the abundance of tourist attractions found in Nice, Cannes, and elsewhere along the French Riviera, companies that offer traditional wine tasting tours, in spite of the excellence of its wines, often overlook Provence.

2600 years ago, the Phoenicians settled in what is now France and created the first vineyards to honor Bacchus (the God of wine). They left behind a legacy of full-bodied wines that have a sparkle and fullness that is as rich as the area they are grown in.

In Provence, as everywhere in the Mediterranean, you will find the people full of warmth, spontaneity, and a “joie de vivre.” As you will soon discover, any of these master oenologists (winemakers) will be delighted to introduce you to the wines they have become famous for; and share a little of the region’s history with you.

If you have luck on your side, your host will be in a generous and share some of the tightly held secrets of blending food with the correct wine to create some that most French winegrowers have a passion for.

Throughout all of France and in Provence, as well winemaking is a serious business. Winegrowers have won the privilege to include the prestigious “AOC” designation, which is the Appellation d’Origine Controlee on their wine bottles. This is a mark of honor and assures the buyer that the vintage is guaranteed from a designated region. Winegrowers must pass a set of rigorous tests and inspections in order to win the privilege of being designated an appellation wine.

It is a coveted award bestowed only by the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris and is a truly a prestigious title of an AOC labeled wine.

Beyond the label, the first sip will tell you that Ctes de Provence winegrowers are experts in winemaking as it is a delicious sip you will not soon forget. They use traditional methods of harvesting and bottling their wines, and their abiding respect for the soil, climate, and diversity of grapes they use reflects in the excellence in quality and taste of the finished product.

Provence is situated in the heart of winemaking country at the “Maison des Ctes de Provence” which boasts and outstanding selection of appellation wines.

If you are not worried about the thickness of your waist (or your wallet), a visit to the four-star restaurant the “Bacchus Gourmand” is a must, where you can savor real Provencal cuisine accompanied (of course) by the perfect bottle of a Ctes de Provence wine.

You can taste home-cooked meal, try out one of the out of the way cafes that are tucked on the narrow side streets of any villages, and your chef who is most times also your host will be happy to recommend a wine to you.

During your tour you can arrange to take a wine tasting course at one of the vineyards where you will learn a complete understanding of wine: its robe (color), its bouquet (perfume), its body (strength) and everything you need to know about service, conservation etc.

A visit to Provence and a tour of some of these wonderful vineyards and wineries — and taking home a bottle or two — will be an experience to remember.

Wine cellars come in many different sizes and styles next time your looking to purchase a wine cellar make sure you start your search with us.

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Hidden Jewel of France – Provence

By KC Kudra

Hidden amidst the hills in the south of France lies Provence, winegrower’s heaven that vacationers should visit. If you are planning a vacation in France, add Provence to your list of places to visit. There are 60 winegrowers in the “Ctes de Provence,” a region that is small, beautiful, part of the departments of the Var, and part of the Bouches-du-Rhne area.

Azure seas, miles of sandy, white beaches adorned by an indigo sky awaits you, merged together with limestone cliffs and old-world villages that give way to scented pine forests that shelter tranquil lakes and lazy, winding rivers.

On the flipside, there is a bustling metropolis complete with all modern conveniences, or you might elect to stay in an old world style country house with 17th and 18th century antiques and explore the wine regions of South West France. In Provence, all of this is possible as you take leisurely walks along sunshine filled paths that are warm and inviting. You will enjoy the lush nights, scents of jasmine, wild thyme and lavender filling your senses with joy.

One of the more breathtaking scenes of beauty is the Mediterranean Sean with its plentiful tourist attractions in place like Nice, Cannes and other places along the French Riviera. There you will find companies that give traditional wine country tours in France and in spite of Provence’s excellent wines, it is often overlooked.

The Phoenicians setting in France over 2600 years ago and created vineyards to honor the God of Wine, Bacchus, leaving behind a legacy of wines that sparkle, are full-bodied and come with the fullness that is as rich as the area in which the grapes are grown.

Warmth, spontaneity and a “joie de vivre” is what defines the people you will encounter everywhere in the Mediterranean as well as Provence. It will not take very long for you to realize that these are master oenologists or winemakers who are proud and delighted to show you the wines they have gained fame for, and share the history of the region.

If you are very lucky, and your host is in the right mood, he might even share some closely guarded secrets of how to blend the right food with exactly the right wine, something that most French winegrowers are passionate about!

As it is throughout all of France, winemaking in Provence is a serious business. Many of the winegrowers here have won the rights to include the prestigious “AOC” designation (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) on their bottles of wines. This label assures the buyer of a guaranteed vintage from the designated region. In order to win the right to become designated as an appellation wine, winegrowers must pass rigorous tests and inspections.

This is a truly prestigious and coveted award, as only the Ministry of Agriculture in Paris can bestow the title of an AOC on a wine.

Beyond the label, the first sip will tell you that Ctes de Provence winegrowers are experts in winemaking as it is a delicious sip you will not soon forget. They use traditional methods of harvesting and bottling their wines, and their abiding respect for the soil, climate, and diversity of grapes they use reflects in the excellence in quality and taste of the finished product.

Provence is situated in the heart of winemaking country at the “Maison des Ctes de Provence” which boasts and outstanding selection of appellation wines.

You must throw away your concerns about a widening waistband and wallet as you visit one of the best restaurants in the south of France, one of many called “Bacchus Gourmand” where you will be delighted by real Provencal cuisine accompanied by the perfect selection of Ctes de Provence wine.

Or try sampling a home-cooked meal at one of the many out of the way cafes you’ll find tucked away on a narrow side street in any village, where your host is also often your chef, and he will be delighted to recommend a wine to you.

You can arrange a wine tasting course as part of your tour to one of the vineyards and gain a deeper understanding of wine including its robe or color, bouquet or perfume, body or strength and different facets of service conservation.

Provence has some of the most wonderful vineyards and wineries, where you can take an experience of a lifetime with you back home as you savor Provence wines.

Wine cellars come in many different sizes and styles next time your looking for a wine cellar make sure you start your search with us.

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