Wines of the Ventoux appellation

The history of the Ventoux vineyard

The Ventoux vineyard has been developing since Antiquity through the successive Greek and Roman occupations, to which we owe the implantation of the vine in this beautiful region. The vineyard was supported by the Popes who succeeded each other in Avignon, and it is from the 1500s that we find the first written trace of a desire to produce quality wines by the publication of "bans de vendanges" by the Consuls of Pernes. At the same time, the "baux à complant" were published, notarial registers attesting to the presence of certain grape varieties that are still used today, such as Piquepoul, Grenache and Syrah for red wines, and Bourboulenc and Clairette for white wines. 

It was not until 1973 that this desire for quality production led to the recognition of the Protected Designation of Origin "Côtes du Ventoux", which was simplified in 2009 to become simply "Ventoux".

The Ventoux terroir 

This vineyard extends over 6 374 hectares between Vaison - la - Romaine in the north and Apt in the south. The vineyard covers a very large area between the Dentelles de Montmirail and the northern slopes of the Luberon, passing by the Monts du Vaucluse, and in particular the Giant of Provence, the Mont Ventoux. 

In this vineyard, there is a great diversity of soils: Mediterranean red soils, brown calcareous soils or colluvial erosion soils. All of them have the particularity of being sandy, light and rich in pebbles from safres. 

These soils benefit from a Mediterranean climate with a lot of sunshine (up to 2,800 hours per year) and rainfall that is not excessive. The Mistral wind is also an asset in this region since, blocked by the Mont Ventoux (the Mount of all winds), its force is attenuated allowing the drying of the berries after the rains, thus avoiding the grapes to be damaged, especially in summer during their period of maturation. 

 

The control of the Appellation

The rules imposed by the AOC Ventoux for its wines are simple: red and rosé wines must not contain more than 20% of secondary grape varieties such as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Marsanne, Marselan, or Roussanne, and red wines must not contain more than 10% of secondary grape varieties such as Marsanne, Rolle or Viognier. Thus, red and rosé wines will contain a majority of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre or Syrah, and white wines will be composed of 90% Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache blanc or Roussanne.

 

Products from the AOC Ventoux 

The red wines produced in the Ventoux appellation area are rich, well-balanced and suitable for aging if they come from clay-limestone soils. For those coming from sandy and ochreous sandstone soils, they are rather aromatic and generous. 

Rosé wines will be carried by their balance between aromatics and freshness, while white wines will have an assumed aromatic complexity. Their structure allows them to be appreciated young.