Rhone Ranger from Rhone

[mrdutton]

The Vielle Ferme is from AOC Cotes du Ventoux. It is produced by the Perrins from Ch de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf.

The Cotes du Ventoux is located at the bottom of the Mont-Ventoux, a mountain worthy of the name "The Giant of Provence" (1912 m). The Côtes du Ventoux wine-making area extends to the South and West of the mountain. 51 communes are included in the Appellation area, all of them within the limits of the Vaucluse department. It is east of Avignon, its southern border is the Coulon river.

The Côtes du Ventoux vineyards are part of the wine-making tradition that goes back to antiquity. One of the oldest wine silos dating back 2500 years was found in Loriol Du Comtat, near Carpentras. Pseudo-Ionian pots were found North of Maulaucène, proving that wine existed at this time, and in Apt, excavations unearthed wine dolias that date from between the 4th and 1st Centuries AD. Innumerable amphora and Gallo-Greek inscriptions have been found in the area as well.

Once the Barbarian invasions came to an end in the Middle Ages, wine returned to the dinner table. In 882, the Bishop of Carpentras gave a vineyard in Malemort du Comtat as a gift to his monks. 11 centuries later, Saint Mayeul, the greatest and most famous Cluny abbey, who was born in Apt, had vines planted on all of his properties in and around Apt.

During the 14th Century, the Avignon popes had wines from Maulaucène, Pernes, Malemort and Carpentras delivered for their court. In the middle of the 14th century, King Louis-Philippe chose Grenache Vieux of Mazan as his court wine.

While he sighed over Laure, Pétrarque grew vines in Fontaine de Vaucluse. In Rome three centuries later, the white, red and rosé wines of Malemort du Comtat were recognized as some of the best of the papal states wines.

The Côtes du Ventoux wines became an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée on July 23 1973.

Red and rosé wines: Primary grape varieties -Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Secondary varieties - Picpoul noir, Counoise, Clairette, Bourboulence, Grenache blanc and Roussanne Carignan is permitted to a maximum proportion 30%, secondary varieties permitted to a proportion of 20%.

White wines: Primary grape varieties - Clairette, Bouboulenc, Grenache blanc. Secondary varieties - Roussanne, to a maximum proportion of 30%.

Wines that come from Picpoul blanc, Pascal Blanc and Uni Blanc vines that were planted before November 10, 1994 benefit from A.O.C. status until harvest-time in the year 2014; these grape varieties are permitted to a maximum proportion of 20% for the reds and rosés and 30% for the whites.

Minimum degree of alcohol : 11°

Cotes du Luberon is a somewhat newer AOC, (granted in 1988) that lies east of Avignon and is located in the Vaucluse department south of the Coulon River.

The Luberon vineyards go back to ancient times. The Romans cultivated these vines particularly in the Aigues country. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance eras, the winegrowing area was greatly expanded, especially in the Northern part of Little Luberon. In the 18th Century, the vineyards took over 18% of the Lourmarin terroir and 30% of the Tour d'Aigues terroir.

Red and Rose wines: minimum 60% Syrah and Grenache Noir, maximum 20% Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault, and minor grape varieties (Picpoul Noir, Counoise Noire, Gamay Noir with white juice, Pinot Noir)

White: Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc (maximum 50%), Clairette Blanche, Vermentino (or Rolle), Bourboulenc Blanc, and some minor varieties (Roussanne and Marsanne)

Minimum degree of alcohol for reds, whites and rosés : 11°

Sources:

Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine
Interprofession des vins A.O.C. Cotes du Rhone & Vallee du Rhone


[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 05-22-2000).]