Ventoux AOC

Côtes de Ventoux AOC is a wine-growing AOC in the southeastern region of the Rhône wine region of France, where the wines are produced in 51 communes of the Vaucluse département along the lower slopes of the Ventoux mountain, the northernmost peak of the Luberon range. The neighbouring appellation of Côtes du Luberon AOC stretches along its southern border and is separated from it by the Calavon river.

The three main areas of the region, the Malaucène basin, the foothills of the Mont Ventoux to the east of Carpentras and to the north of Cavaillon are less ravaged by the Mistral due to some shelter afforded by the Ventoux- Vaucluse - Luberon mountain range. Archeological discoveries of wine making equipment have dated that wine has been produced in the area at least since around 30 years after the birth of Christ.

Detailed map of the Rhône wine region, with separate maps of Southern Rhône ("Zoom A") and Northern Rhône ("Zoom B").

VENTOUX (wine region)
Official name	Côtes de Ventoux AOC
Appellation type	Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
Year established	1973
Years of wine industry	2,000
Country	France
Part of	Rhône Valley
Climate region	mediteranean
Soil conditions	limestone, red tertiary alluvial soils.
Planted area (ha)	5,873
Yield (hl/ha)	50
Yield (hl)	259,987
No. of vineyards	1,339
Grapes produced	grenache, syrah, cinsault, mourvèdre, carignan, bourboulenc, grenache blanc, clairette, roussanne
No. of wineries	137
Wine produced	red, white, rosé, & primeur
Key	ha: hectares, hl: hectolitres, hl/ha: hectolitres per hectare

Wines

Red and rosé wines are made from, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and Carignan (maximum 30%). Other varieties which may be used to a maximum of 20%.The red wine is distinctly characterised by its aromas of black fruit, spice, and pepper. White wines are produced from Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Grenache Blanc, and Roussane (maximum 30%) A Primeur wine is also produced in all three colours The minimum alcoholic content for all wines is decreed at 11%. The reds which comprise approximately 80% of the production, is light and fruity. All wines are generally consumed while they are still young.

Economy

The Côtes de Ventoux wines are produced by a total of 1,339 concerns which include 1,315 growers, 113 private wineries, 16 cooperative wineries, and 8 producer/merchants. The vinyards are in the communes of Apt, Aubignan, Beaumettes, Beaumont-du-Ventoux, Bédoin, Blauvac, Bonnieux, Cabrières-d'Avignon, Caromb, Carpentras, Caseneuve, Crestet, Crillen-le-Brave, Entrechaux, Flassan, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Gargas, Gignac, Gordes, Goult, Joucas, Lagnes, La Roque-sur-Pernes, Le Barroux, Le Beaucet, Lioux, Loriol-du-Comtat, Malaucène, Malemort-du-Comtat, Maubec, Mazan, Méthamis, Modène, Mormoiron, Murs, Pernes, Robion, Roussillon, Rustrel, Saignon, Saumane, Saint-Didier, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveron, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Saint-Pantaléon, Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols, Saint-Saturnin-d'Apt, Venasque, Viens, Villars and Villes-sur-Auzon.

See also

• French wine