Provence is known for its intensely blue skies, and it is no accident that Van Gogh, Cézanne, Matisse and Picasso loved staying here. However, the Mistral winds that blow 150 days per year have more than artistic merit. They dry the air, keeping the grapevines healthy and disease-free, and sweep away the clouds, leaving the sun to shine 3000 hours per year, a record for France. However, there are geographic variations within this Mediterranean climate. Inland, the weather becomes less balmy, with cool nights, especially at higher elevations. On the coast, the sun shines more strongly, which is ideal for grape varieties such as Mourvèdre. This climate is as perfect as they come.

Provence leaves little to be desired. Its landscapes are beautiful, the sun shines year-round and the summers are punctuated by the sounds of cicadas. People tend to live outside, gathering on outdoor café terraces to take advantage of the mild summer evenings. The cities are beautiful and full of history, the backcountry offers wild hiking paths and there is skiing only three hours from Marseilles. Mediterranean cuisine, based on vegetables, fresh herbs, fish and olive oils also incorporates lamb from the Southern Alps and North African influences. This aromatic and spicy food pairs perfectly with the local wines, and has done so for over 2,600 years.

Provence’s vineyards stretch from the Southern Alps to the Mediterranean and from Marseille to Italy and cover a wide variety of terroirs. Whether it be terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea or the isolated Haut Var, the crumbling rock affords the wines delicacy and character. There is more limestone in the western part of the region, near Aix, Cassis and Bandol. In the west, the soils consist of shale and sandstone from the nearby Alps. The grape varieties adjust to each individual microclimate and are blended to produce a huge array of whites, reds and rosés.