Jancis Robinson wrote “most of us associate Provence with holidays rather than with wine..” and why not the region has 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and very little rain – the classic Mediterranean climate.

However, Provence is also the oldest winemaking region in France where Wine has been made for 2,600 years, ever since the ancient Greeks founded the city of Marseille in 600 BC.

Stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the foothills of the Alps, and from Aix-en-Provence to Nice’s famed Riviera, Provence’s beautiful vineyards extend over 120 miles across three French departments: the Var, the Bouches-du-Rhône, and the Alpes-Maritimes.

There are 10 Official Appellations in Provence: Bandol, Bellet, Cassis, Côteaux-d’Aix-en-Provence, Côteaux de Pierrevert, Côtes-de-Provence, Côtes de Provence-Sainte Victoire, Coteaux Varois, Les Beaux de Provence & Palette.

While the region produces small quantities of red and white wines, is most famous for its elegant, mineral-tinged rosés from such appellations as Côtes de Provence and Bandol. Although Provence rosés, as with any other type of wine, will differ in colour, aroma and taste, Provencal rosés will have similar characteristics - they are usually to be drunk young, and are fresh, crisp and bright on the palate. Rosé is generally dry and must not be confused with white zinfandel and other sweet rosé wines. In fact, in Provence, rosés are limited to a maximum of 3 or 4 grams of residual sugar per litre, depending on the appellation.

The importance of the rosé wines is such that some white and red jewels are too often forgotten. A great example is Bandol its rosés are some of the best, but it also produces one of France’s great ageworthy wines, with powerful reds based on Mourvèdre!