Real estate Cote d'Azur
Half of ali French roses originate in the Republic's largest AOC region, the 18,000-hectare Cotes-de-j Provence. The growing area stretches from St-Raphael to Hyeres, with separate patches a round La Ciotat and Villars-sur-Var, and a wide swathe south and west of Aix-en-Provence. Based on grenache, mourvedre, cinsault.tibouren, cabernet and syrah grapes, Cotes-de-Provence rose is a dry, fruity, and eiegant summer wine that doesn't have to worry about travelling well: more than enough eager oenophiles travel to it every holiday season. Unfortunately its price has travelled too, and there are no prizes for guessing which way, It is, however, possible to find good inexpensive alternative!, 1 since some estates produce a vin depays. This is often as good as wines with full appellatimi controlee status.<br />
An excellent example is Chateau d'Astros, at Vidauban which produces a wonderful range of Vin de Pays des Maures: red, white and rose. The propertyfl run by M. Galliano. A visit to this grand rambling house and estate in the forest is great fun. One can 1 also buy it draught - either supply your own containers or buy one from the owner.<br />
Cotes-de-Provence reds (20 per cent of the production) are much finer today than the rough plonk i Caesar issued to his legions, most notably the special cuvees put out by the better estates. The whites, of clairette and ugni blanc grapes, are scarcer stili, and account for only five per cent of the AOC label. With 57 cooperatives and 350 private cellars, Cotes-de-Provence is easily sampled, especially along the signposted 40okm Route des Vins, which you can pick up at Le Lue or Le Muy from the Frejus, Les Arcs and Puget-sur-Argens.<br />
Two of the best-known producers are at Trets southwest of St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume: Chateau Ferry-Lacombe, where the vines are I planted on ancient Roman terraces (along with the pink stuff.you can find the excellent Cuvee Lou j Cascai); and the Chateau Grand'Boise, where the subtle red Cuvee Mazarine and a flowery blanc de blancs are grown amid a large forest.<br />
Near Le Lue, Herve Coudard's Domaine St-Baillon, on the Flassans-sur-lssole mixes syrah and cabernet sauvignon to produce its truffle-scented Cuvee du Roudai'. Just under the cliffs of Montagne Ste-Victoire, Domaine Richeaume, at Puyloubier in Ji Provence's most modem and efficient cave, run by Sylvain Hoesch and producing along with roses aqH interesting selection of red wines, one of pure syrah and another of pure cabernet sauvignon.<br />
At La Londe-les-Maures east of Hyeres, Domaines Ott, Clos Mireille, Route de Bregancon, offers one of the appellation's top white wines, of ugni and semillon grapes aged in wooden barrels. The estate's top rose, 'cceur de grains', is one of the most sought-afterJH wines in the region... and has a price to match.<br />
A much higher percentage of red wine is produced in the cooler, drier Coteaux Varois, a region of communes around Brignoles in the centrai Var, beginning a few miles north of the Bandol district east of La Ciotat and extending north as far as Tavernes. This old vin de pays has been elevated to the ranks of VDOS; ali the vintners along the other roads outside Brignoles hang out signs to Iure I you in.<br />
You can try a good (and organic) Coteaux Varois at the Domaine du Bas Deffens, on the Cotignac road just east of Barjols . Or sample Coteaux Varois at Chateau Thuerry, set in a wooded landscape 1 at Villecroze