AOC/AOP Regulations

Département

  • Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var

Subzones (Geographic Designations)

  • Sainte-Victoire, Fréjus, La Londe, Pierrefeu (the latter added in 2012)

Styles and Encépagement

  • Blanc: Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Sémillon, Vermentino
  • Rouge: 
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 70% combined Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Tibouren (none of the preceding grapes may exceed 90%, and at least two must be present)
    • Accessory Varieties: Max. 20% combined Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Vermentino and Sémillon (max. 10% Ugni Blanc, Clairette, and Sémillon); plus Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan
  • Rosé: As for Rouge
  • Côtes de Provence „Sainte Victoire“ Rouge and Rosé
    • Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault (min. 50% combined Grenache and/or Syrah), none of the preceding grapes may exceed 80%, and at least two must be present
    • Accessory Varieties: Max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon; max. 20% combined Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Vermentino and Sémillon (max. 10% Ugni Blanc, Clairette, and Sémillon); plus Carignan and Mourvèdre
     
  • Côtes de Provence „Fréjus“
    • Rouge: Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (no single grape may exceed 60%)
    • Rosé: 
      • Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Tibouren (min. 20%), at least two of the preceding grapes must be present 
      • Accessory Varieties: Cinsault
  • Côtes de Provence „La Londe“
    •  Blanc: 
      • Principle Variety: Min. 50% Vermentino
      • Accessory Varieties: Clairette, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc 
    •  Rouge:
      • Principle Varieties: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (min. 50% combined Grenache and/or Syrah, at least two of the preceding must be present, and no single grape may exceed 60%)
      • Accessory Varieties: Carignan and a max. 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Rosé: 
      • Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Cinsault and Grenache (neither may exceed 60%)
      • Accessory Varieties: Max. 20% combined Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Vermentino and Sémillon (max. 10% Ugni Blanc, Clairette, and Sémillon)
  • Côtes de Provence „Pierrefeu“
    • Rouge: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah (no single variety may exceed 80%); plus Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan
    • Rosé: Min. 80% combined Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault (no single variety may exceed 80%); plus Tibouren; and a max. 20% combined Ugni Blanc, Clairette Blanc, Semillon, and Vermentino (none of these except Vermentino may exceed 10% of the total blend)

Assemblage

  • Rosé/Rouge: Principal Varieties must account for at least 50% of the blend, and at least two grapes must be present
  • „Fréjus“ Rouge: Min. 50% Syrah
  • „Fréjus“ Rosé: Min. 70% principal varieties and a min. 50% combined Grenache and/or Tibouren
  • „Pierrefeu“ Rouge: No grape variety may comprise more than 70% of the blend.

Minimum Potential Alcohol

  • Côtes de Provence Blanc/Rosé/Rouge: 11%
  • Côtes de Provence with Subzone Designation Blanc: 11.5%
  • Côtes de Provence with Subzone Designation Rosé: 11.5%
  • Côtes de Provence with Subzone Desgination Rouge: 12%

Minimum Must Weight

  • Blanc/Rosé: 178 g/l
  • Rouge: 189 g/l
  • Rosé (with Subzone Designation): 187 g/l
  • Rouge (with Subzone Designation): 207 g/l

Maximum Residual Sugar

  • Blanc/Rosé: 4 g/l
  • Rouge: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)
  • „Fréjus Rosé/Rouge: 3 g/l
  • „Pierrefeu“ Rosé: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 14%)
  • „La Londe“ Blanc: 3 g/l (4 g/l if potential alcohol is greater than 13%)

Élevage

  • „Fréjus“ Rouge: Min. 6 months in oak, may not be released until November 1 of the year following the harvest
  • „Sainte-Victoire“ Rouge: May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest
  • „La Londe“ Rouge: May not be released until September 1 of the year following the harvest

Minimum Planting Density

  • max. 2.5 square meters per vine

Maximum Yield (Rendement de Base)

  • Côtes de Provence: 55 hl/ha
  • Côtes de Provence with Subzone Designation: 50 hl/ha

AOC Established

  • 1977 (last updated 2016)

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