📍 Provence

Provence is a Mediterranean area in southeastern France that has become the world capital of rosé. It is a historic region rather than a single official zone. Summers are warm and sunny, winters mild, and a cool wind, the mistral, blows from the north. It dries the vineyards and protects them from disease.

Winegrowing here is among the oldest in France. Grapes are thought to have been brought by Greeks from Phocaea, who founded Marseille around 600 BC. Today most of the area's wines are rosé: pale, dry and fresh, with aromas of citrus and red berries. They are made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Tibouren and other grapes. Whites are made from Rolle (Vermentino) and others, reds from Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah.

Provence includes the appellations Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois, Bandol, Cassis, Les Baux-de-Provence, Bellet, Palette and others. Bandol is known for reds from Mourvèdre, Cassis for whites. It is part of French wine, and rosé from here is served chilled, in summer, with vegetables, fish and Mediterranean food.