Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC
The vineyards of the Coteaux d' Aix -en- Provence is located in the west of the French wine-growing region of Provence. In the east the great Côtes de Provence connects. The appellation Coteaux d' Aix -en- Provence is named after the city lying north of Marseille, Aix -en- Provence. Southeast of the city includes the small appellation of range. The area is bounded on the north by the river Durance and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea. In the West, the Rhône sets the theoretical limit of the area firmly while in the east the striking mountains of the Montagne Sainte- Victoire is the visible limit. In fact, the vineyards border the area where they overlap to the west with the appellation of Les Baux -de- Provence to the west at eygalières.
The mean Sonnschein time is 2900 hours / year and the rainfall is low 550-680 mm / year. Precipitation falls mainly in spring and autumn. Large parts of the area subject to the influence of the wind Mistral.
Within France, the wine of the appellation acquired under the " Winzerkönig " and Count of Provence René of Anjou ( Count of Provence ) great notoriety, as René introduced the wine at the French court.
On December 24, 1985, the area received after a long struggle the status of an Appellation d' Origine.
The vineyards cover approximately 3,800 hectares in 49 municipalities, which are up to the exception of two municipalities in the department of Bouches -du -Rhône. The area is crossed by running parallel to the Mediterranean coast hill chains, such as the Alpilles. Wine production in the intervening valleys.
Generally, the income to max. 60 hectoliters / hectare limited. On an annual average 180,000 hectoliters of wine are produced by the 14 winegrowers and 74 self-marketing wineries, which is divided as follows:
- 55 % Rosé ( with slightly decreasing trend )
- 40 % red wine ( with a slightly increasing trend )
- 5% white wine
15% of production is exported. Main export markets are Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The red wine and rosé wine is made from the main vine Grenache, a maximum of 40 % Syrah, Cinsault, Counoise and / or Mourvèdre and a maximum of 30 % Cabernet Sauvignon and / or Carignan. The provision thus allows merely use pure Grenache wines. The minimum alcohol content is 11 % by volume.
The white wine is made from the grape varieties Bourboulenc, Vermentino, Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc. The maximum fraction of a species is limited to 70%. In addition to these four varieties may be max. 40 % Ugni Blanc, the variety and max. 30% of the varieties Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are used. The minimum alcohol content is 11 % by volume.
Approved communities
In the Bouches -du -Rhône: Aix -en- Provence, Alleins, Auron, La Barben, Les Baux -de- Provence, Berre- l'Étang, Charleval, Châteauneuf -les- Martigues, Cornillon- Confoux, Coudoux, eguilles, Ensuès la Redonne, eygalières, Eyguières, La Fare -les- Oliviers, Fontvieille, Gignac- la- Nerthe, Istres, Jouques, Lamanon, Lambesc, Lancon -Provence, Mallemort, Martigues, Maussane -les -Alpilles, Meyrargues, Mouriès, Paradou, Pelissanne, Peyrolles -en- Provence, Port-de -Bouc, Le Puy -Sainte- Réparade, Rognac, Rognes, Saint- Cannat, Saint- Chamas, Saint- Esteve - Janson, Saint- Étienne- du- Grès, Saint -Marc- Jaumegarde, Saint- Mitre -les- Remparts, Saint- Rémy -de- Provence, Salon-de -Provence, Vauvenargues, velaux, Venelles, ventabren and Vernègues.
In the Var: Artigues and Rians.