What does "Provence" suggest in your mind?

Hello,

Languedoc is the wine area in France which is very much talked about. But there is an other wine area in the South of France called Provence (in the South East). I never read much about it in American forums, blogs or press. But Provence produces also great red, rose and white wines. Do you know this area as a wine producing country? What kind of image does the word "Provence" carry for you? Does it relate to anything negative?

Thanks for your ideas!

Cheers, Eve

Hello,

Languedoc is the wine area in France which is very much talked about. But there is an other wine area in the South of France called Provence (in the South East). I never read much about it in American forums, blogs or press. But Provence produces also great red, rose and white wines. Do you know this area as a wine producing country? What kind of image does the word "Provence" carry for you? Does it relate to anything negative?

Eve,

Provence is mentioned on this Forum. For example, Peter Mayle’s books about his travels to Provence were discussed recently.

I have never been there, but for me the thought evokes a pastoral utopia. I’m almost afraid to visit because I don’t want the image to change. I want to believe there is still some place on earth that I can go to get away from the crowding, commercialism and insanity.

Covert

(Albany, New York, USA)

Hi Eve,

Provence suggests to me:

- Mediterranean climate, people, and food
- an ocean of rosé wines of a type that I have never found exciting
- unusual Rhône-style white wines, frequently on the alcoholic/low acid style
- some interesting reds, the best of the 3 varieties. I've had good luck with Bandol, Bellet, and (the increasingly expensive...) Ch. Simone.
- a confusing "grand cru" classification.


All the best,
Alex

a confusing "grand cru" classification.

Are there grand crus in Provence? I didn't realize. Since when?

Provence wines are generally quite interesting and pleasing. I like Bandol, but wish it were priced more reasonably.

Been to Provence in 2003. Great touring all around the area...terrific Roman era ruins to the north.

Between Languedoc and Provence, right along side the southern Rhone, outside Beaucaire, a family winery has recreated a Roman press and winemaking facility, but the name is not on the tip of my tongue right now. [/i]

Are there grand crus in Provence? I didn't realize. Since when?

Hello Rahsaan,

Yes, there are "Grands Clus classés de Provence". There is even an association des Grands Crus classés. You'll find estates like chateau Roubine directed by Valérie Riboud, Rimauresq (excellent R de Rimauresq), and about 18 other estates.
Cheers, Eve

http://classement.75cl.com/crus_classes_de_provence.htm

Alex

[Robin Garr]

What kind of image does the word "Provence" carry for you? Does it relate to anything negative?

Hi, Eve ... this is a very interesting question, one I wanted to think about before discussing.

In general, separate from wine, I think Peter Mayle and his ilk, for better or worse, have brought Provence to a high profile in the US. I know that when I think of Provence, I think happy thoughts of a sunny place, full of bright color, herbs and flowers and miles of lavender, the seacoast and the mountains, Arles and Avignon and Bandol and Les Baux and quaint villages and the Camargue and of course Marseilles.

Provence and the Southern Rhone run together in my mind ... I visualize Avignon as being part of Provence, for instance. as much as part of the Rhone.

From a wine standpoint, it's interesting. Provence seems more of a patchwork to me and not as "organized" as the Southern or Northern Rhone or even Languedoc. As Thomas said, I love Bandol, and when I compare it with similar wines from the Rhone or Languedoc, I can't even really quibble about the price, although some of those single-vineyard Tempiers are kind of crazy.

But unlike the Languedoc, when I think of Provence I am much more likely to think of individual properties - Tempier, Mas de Gourgonnier, Val Joanis, Domaine de Trevallon. I love them all, but they don't seem all that closely related to me ... each has its own personality, but they're individual. I don't find a common character in them as I do with the Cotes du Rhone or Burgundy.

Just a few random thoughts.

Are there grand crus in Provence? I didn't realize. Since when?

Hello Rahsaan,

Yes, there are "Grands Clus classés de Provence". There is even an association des Grands Crus classés. You'll find estates like chateau Roubine directed by Valérie Riboud, Rimauresq (excellent R de Rimauresq), and about 18 other estates.
Cheers, Eve

http://classement.75cl.com/crus_classes_de_provence.htm

Interesting.

Don't drink much of the wines but I understand there is some pretty serious geographic diversity in "Provence". Which might make it difficult to market as a region (similar to Alsace or Gaillac - which is smaller yes, but also bewilderingly diverse)..

Lavender, bread, olive oil, 3 hour lunches, sunflowers, salty air and yes...earthy wines..

Pleasant connotations. I have visited Provence on an art history tour (Avignon, Arles, Van Gogh associations, the spot where the Crusaders gathered to ship for the Holy Land, Roman aqueducts, an outdoor opera site). I used to visit a picturesque restaurant in Monterey County, CA called Provence. I now visit St. Jacques in Raleigh where the proprietor is from Provence and leads tours to France each summer. He has served Provencal wines on occasion and last Friday I had a Provencal omelet for lunch. I may visit Provence with his group in 2008 along with my sister and brother-in-law. I look forward to visiting the south of France once again and exploring local wines. Can't claim much knowledge of the wines.

Lavender, bread, olive oil, 3 hour lunches, sunflowers, salty air and yes...earthy wines..

Don't forget MFK Fisher...

...and JC, the history is marvelous (though depressing) in that region--the area nearest Cathar.

Beautiful sea coast and beaches, Cannes, movie stars, perfumes -- gigantic wagons full of rose petals and other flowers, garrigue, Bandol, La Bastide Blanche, Château Routas Luc Sorin, Mayles and his books, beautiful knit sweaters in the hills, aluminum [Les Baux de Provence], the mistral -- did it drive van Gogh mad? -- Tricastan built where in case of disaster, radiation would be blown away from populated areas, Frédéric Mistral, Domaine de Trévallon, a waiter ranking Bandols:

Château Pradeaux: the best, since 1625 A.D.
Château Pibarnon: owner, Count St. Victor
Domaine Tempier: ask for Mr. Peyraud, a friend of Mr. Xavier.

cork trees, Aix-en-Provence, walking and shopping ... one of the best travel destinations Janet and I have enjoyed. And Colette:


[In Provence build a fire of carefully selected wood], twisted olive logs, bundles of cistus, laurel roots and laurel branches, round pieces of pine sticky with golden resin, a scant gathering of terebinth, almond, and of course a few vine cuttings…. 'The 'kicked fish' leaps from the grill onto your plate. You see how firm it is, how its skin crackles, splits, and reveals the white flesh whose taste recalls the ocean and the odor of the forest. The pine-scented night begins to fall, and a flickering candle on the table illuminates the pomegranate color of the wine in your glass. The moment is full of happiness. Drink to it.
Colette, Prisons et Paradis.

[Robin Garr]

the history is marvelous (though depressing) in that region--the area nearest Cathar.

Pedantry alert! The Cathars were in Languedoc, around Minervois, a long haul from Provence. Although you'll occasionally see "Provence" used to denote all of Southern France, it's really limited to the region east of the mouth of the Rhone, through Marseilles and Nice. Languedoc is west of the Rhone, through Montpellier to the Pyrenees, and that's where the Cathars lived and, sadly, died.

Thomas,
Your mention of Cathar brings to mind books I have read by Zoe Oldenbourg about the Crusades and about the persecution of those of the Cathar faith--pretty harrowing reading. The Middle Ages could be pretty brutal.

More pedantry: The name comes from Roman times; Provence was the southern part of ancient Gallia (Narbonensis), which came under Roman rule long before the other parts, was familiarly styled (nostra) Provincia, ‘the (or our) province’.

I mentioned the roses that thrive in the area -- used to make perfumes for centuries -- but olive oil from Provence has a very distinctive garrigue flavor.

I understand there is some pretty serious geographic diversity in "Provence". Which might make it difficult to market as a region

You mean, as opposed to the "Loire", Rahsaan?

Homes large and small with walled gardens and at least one apricot tree.

I understand there is some pretty serious geographic diversity in "Provence". Which might make it difficult to market as a region

You mean, as opposed to the "Loire", Rahsaan?

Yes, could have included that as well. But although it is difficult to generalize about the "Loire" as a region, I wonder if the dramatic elevation shifts in Provence produce a wider range of climates/ripening conditions than the gently sloping hills of the Loire (despite the different rain patterns, soil, cepages, etc).

I understand there is some pretty serious geographic diversity in "Provence". Which might make it difficult to market as a region

You mean, as opposed to the "Loire", Rahsaan?

I don't know about the Loire (Rahsaan is the expert!) but I know Provence is not easy to market as a region or as a wine region. As a region because it has a very blurred image and as a wine producing region, because a lot of wine lovers think "Bandol" and ignore all the other wines. What about the famous "rosé de Provence"? It seems to be famous only in France because nobody mentioned it.

I have a mental block, Eve, on the rosés from Provence. Loved them there, but there are so many excellent rosés from France now on the US market.

And on personal level,there's great confusion in the rose world between Provence and Provins roses.

But that fame in France is because the French are the most avid consumers of rose wines, which are the specialty of Provence, Eve.

When I was in retail in Texas (years ago) I brought in some Provencal wines to see if I could stimulate some sales. Didn't work. The wines were okay, but didn't stand out very well in the forest of competition. Pretty pallid, actually.

Mind you, this was long before the entrepreneurial folks who moved into Provence with an eye to making it a bigger player on the wine scene, and the standout estates that have since developed.

Mind you, this was long before the entrepreneurial folks who moved into Provence with an eye to making it a bigger player on the wine scene, and the standout estates that have since developed.

What do you think of the rose de Provence you can find in a regular French supermarket at around 5 euros (it would sell in the States for $8-10)? I'm not talking about prestigious estates such as Tempier or Peyrassol but a nice typical rose wine served on your white meat during the winter and your barbecue in the summer: fruity, well balanced, light and refreshing - the one I enjoy.

And on personal level,there's great confusion in the rose world between Provence and Provins roses.

I hope you won't mind a little vocabulary session. Provence is an area in the South East of France, near the Italian border and including the French Riviera (St Tropez, Cannes, Nice) as well as Luberon and Alpilles. It produces rosé wines (the e of rosé has an accent on it but I don't know if you can see it).

Provins is a small medieval city in the East of Paris famous for its beautiful roses. It's gorgeous in the summer when all the flowers are blooming.

Hope it helps!