Wine-producing region special feature "Provence"

About Provence Wine

Provence is a region in southeastern France facing the Mediterranean Sea.

The strong sunlight and dry climate of the Mediterranean climate are ideal for growing grapes, which do not like humidity. The local Mistral wind also blows away the heat during the day, and the large temperature difference between night and day also creates favorable conditions for the grapes.

Provence is the place with the oldest history of wine cultivation in France , where grapes and winemaking were introduced from Greece around the 7th century BC.

Speaking of Provence, the image that comes to mind is of deep blue seas and white sandy beaches . Seaside resorts such as the Cote d'Azur and Marseille, the lavender road, sunflower fields, and other rich natural scenery that never ceases to fascinate people.

Provence is also known for its rosé wine , and in summer the coastal restaurants are filled with people enjoying rosé wine on their terraces.

• Provence wine highlights
• How to enjoy rosé wine
• Mavi's Provencal wine producers
• Enjoy Provencal wine and gourmet food
• Recommended Provence wines

Provence wine highlights

1. Mediterranean climate and the Mistral

Provence has a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot sunshine and dryness . The strong local wind, the Mistral , blows away the hot air, creating favorable conditions for grapes, which experience large temperature differences between day and night.

2. France's oldest wine-growing region

Provence is the place with the oldest history of wine growing in France , where grapes were brought from Greece around the 7th century BC.

3. Captivating scenery

Provence is home to scenic views such as the azure sea, white sandy beaches, Mont Sainte-Victoire, and sunflower fields that have been beloved by famous painters.

4. Provence is all about rosé wine!

More than 80% of the wine produced in Provence is rosé wine . In addition to rosé, you can enjoy fruity wines made from grapes that have been exposed to plenty of sunshine.

• 1. Climate of Provence
• 2. The oldest wine-growing region in France
• 3. Beautiful scenery
• 4. Rosé wine from Provence

1. The Mediterranean climate and the Mistral are ideal for grape cultivation

Facing the Mediterranean Sea, Provence has a Mediterranean climate with little rain in the summer and strong sunlight that brings high temperatures and dryness. The sun is essential for the growth of grapes. The Mistral, a marshland wind , also blows away the heat during the day, and the large temperature difference between night and day also creates favorable conditions for grapes.

2. The oldest winegrowing site in France

Provence is said to have the oldest history of wine-growing in France, with grapes being brought there from Greece around the 7th century BC.

If you look closely at the labels of the wines of the Dowell family, the producers of Mavi, you will see designs of amphorae, wine jars used in ancient Greece and Rome, and pictures of Venus. These were actually excavated from the Dowell family's vineyards, showing that grape growing has been taking place in this area since before the Common Era.

3. A landscape loved by many artists

When you hear Provence, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the deep blue sea, white sand beaches , and seaside resorts such as the Cote d'Azur and Marseille. The inland mountainous area is also home to the Luberon, which was written about in "Twelve Months in Provence" and where the wealthy of France flocked to build their villas, Gordes, which is said to be "the most beautiful village in France," the Lavender Road in June, the sunflower fields that became the motif of Van Gogh's paintings, and Mont Sainte-Victoire, which was loved by the famous Provencal painter Cezanne . Provence is a region where you can experience rich nature and scenic beauty.

4. Wine from Provence

Over 80% of the wine produced in Provence is rosé , which is mainly dry and has a clean, fruity taste.

The main grape varieties in Provence are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon for red wines, Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Semillon, and Vermentino for white wines, and rosé wine is made from red wine grapes.

Provencal wines are made from grapes grown in full sun, giving them a rich, fruity flavor .

How to enjoy rosé wine

A dry rosé wine that pairs well with food

Dry rosés are more versatile when paired with food than whites or reds.

It is particularly suitable for Provencal cuisine, which makes generous use of tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs, and it is no exaggeration to say that it "goes well with anything."

It is stronger than white wine, but unlike red wine, it can be chilled . A chilled rosé makes it even more delicious and enjoyable in the hot summer.

Rose wine also goes well with Asian cuisine, including not only Provencal cuisine, but also Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Korean cuisine , which are familiar to us. In particular, Mavi's representative Tamura likes to pair Var rose with tofu for an evening drink.

It can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, making it a great choice for Japanese dining tables where many different dishes are served at once, or for potluck home parties. Compared to red and white wines, rosé wine is still consumed less in Japan, where people tend to eat lighter meals than in Europe, so it is an excellent wine that should be drunk more in Japan.

In addition, the cute fragrance surprisingly goes well with sweet things, so it can be paired not only with desserts made with berries, but also with Japanese sweets such as sakura mochi and dried fruits, making it truly versatile.

How to make rosé wine

There are two main methods for making rosé wine: one is to start fermentation in the same way as making red wine, and then once the grapes have reached the right color, to remove the juice and ferment it as is; the other is to press red wine grapes during the process of making white wine, and ferment only the juice .

A common misconception is that rosé wine is made by mixing finished red and white wine, but making rosé wine in this way is prohibited except in the Champagne region and parts of the Tagus region of Portugal.

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Mavi's Provencal wine producers

The Douello family/Provence, France

Domaine Pansina

The Dowell family home is located in Provence, southern France, in an area overlooking the magnificent view of Mont Sainte-Victoire, a mountain loved by the painter Cézanne. It is a land where wine has been produced since prehistoric times, with Greek goddess statues and winemaking jars unearthed in the vineyards.

It is a completely organic farm that has never used pesticides or chemical fertilizers since the beginning of time . In addition to grapes, they also grow wheat, sunflowers, olives, and more.

Alain, the head of the Dowell family, loves having everyone drink delicious wine. Although Alain has a cheerful and humorous personality, he is very serious when talking about winemaking. Dowell harvests the fruit between 3am and 8am to prevent it from being damaged by the heat of the day . There are few winemakers who are so thorough. He then immediately starts making wine in the winery on the farm. In order to create a wine with a clean, crisp taste without any barrel aromas, all stainless steel tanks are used. As the wine is made from fresh, fully ripe fruit in the best possible condition, the resulting wine is clean and free of impurities.

"My wine is the most drunk wine at Mavi!" Dowell boasts.

>>Go to the Dowell family wine list

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Enjoy Provencal wine and gourmet food

Provence is also home to an attractive food culture blessed with a rich variety of ingredients, including vegetables such as tomatoes and zucchini grown in the full sun, and seafood caught in the Mediterranean .

Grilled summer vegetables, Marseille's specialty bouillabaisse, and chickpea flour crepes called "Socca" can all be enjoyed with chilled white or rosé wine to create a summery atmosphere.

There is a product called "Herbes de Provence" (Herbes de Provence), which is a mix of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and savory herbs that are particularly popular in the south of France. Simply sprinkle it on meat, fish, and other ingredients and grill them to easily enjoy the flavors of Provence.

There are also more goat cheeses than cow cheeses, which are best paired with a crisp, citrusy white wine from the Côtes de Provence.

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Recommended Provence wines

Popular Provencal wines

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