Côtes de Provence

Around half of France's rosé wine is made in this area. By far the biggest appellation, diversity of topography and climate make it extremely disparate. Zones range from the coastal area around St Tropez to cooler hill sites north of Draguignan. Three sub-appellations were granted to the Côtes de Provence appellation in 2005, named after the communes of Frejus, Sainte-Victoire and La Londe. They are reserved for red and rosé wines only. The rosés de Provence are light, fruity, soft and aromatic.

Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

The area around the historic town of Aix-en-Provence produces wines in three colors. This westernmost part of Provence is a relatively new appellation, stretching north to south from the Luberon to the Mediterranean and east to west from the town of Aix-en-Provence to the Rhone Valley. Bounded on the east by the Sainte Victoire Mountain and on the southwest by the Alpilles mountain chain, the vineyards cover some 50 villages. The vines are planted at an altitude of anywhere between sea level and 400 meters. The area's traditional grape varieties - Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvedre - have recently been enhanced by the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon. This has improved the aging potential of many of the area's reds.

Les Baux-de-Provence

This tiny district, in the northwest corner of Provence, used to be part of the Coteaux d'Aix appellation, but was given an independent AOC status for reds and roses in 1994. The vineyards are located around the renowned, spectacular hilltop medieval village, Les Baux-de-Provence. This is one of the most dynamic appellations in Provence, with many quality conscious producers. They have been practicing almost exclusively organic viticulture for many years, aided by a warm, dry climate in which the risks of rot and disease are lessened. Red wines dominate (80 percent of the production); most of them are deeply-colored and full-bodied. Made predominantly from the classic Rhône combination (Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah), they have a definite southern Rhône feel to them. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is only 32 km to the north.

Coteaux Varois

This district is located in the hilly central Provence, between the Côtes de Provence and the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence. Centered around the town of Brignoles and named after the Var departement in which it is located, the Coteaux Varois was made an AOC in 1993. rosés dominate the production. The grape varieties are much the same as in CCôtes de Provence: Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Cabernet. What marks the difference is the location of the vineyards, which are inland away from the coast and all at a higher, cooler altitude, making the wines a little more aromatic.

Bandol

Provence's most serious appellation takes its name from the town of Bandol, an old fishing village and a popular vacation resort in southwest Provence. Eight villages make up the Bandol AOC zone; the best vineyards being on the hillsides a couple of miles in from the coast which form a terraced amphitheater overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal appellation is know for its red wines but also makes some serious, savory rosés and tiny quantities of crisp, fruity whites. They are slowly but surely acquiring a reputation outside of the region.

Cassis

One of France's oldest appellation, it takes its name from the pretty fishing port, several miles east of Marseille and west of Bandol.
Cassis is a small AOC district on the coast where white wines dominate. They are made mainly from Clairette and Marsanne and go perfectly with the local fish specialities. The small quantity of rosé and red wines made from Mourvedre, Cinsaut and Grenache are best drunk young. The rosés are pleasant, as are the dense and deep-colored reds.

Bellet

One of France's smallest appellations, Bellet is perched high up in the hills above the city of Nice.
The cool hill sites are suited to the production of fresh, aromatic white wines made from Rolle (a grape variety shared with parts of western Italy), Roussanne, Chardonnay, and Clairette. The reds are made from the original Braquet and Fuella grape varieties. Most of the wine is consumed locally.

Palette

Palette is a very small appellation, east of Aix-en-Provence, just north of Marseille. Because of the local soils, Palette's wines stand out from those of the much-larger appellations that effectively surround it. Production here is dominated by a single producer, Chateau Simone, which owns roughly half of the appellation vineyards. This estate produces rich, long-lived reds, rosés, and white wines, though the latter is the most renowned. The list of grape varieties permitted under the Palette appellation is one of the most extensive, with no fewer than 16 allowed in the white wines and 15 in the reds.