Bellet Wine Guide: Whites, Roses and Reds to Try

To the west of the luxurious surroundings of the City of Nice (not far from the French Riviera) is the appellation of Bellet wines. It is the smallest appellation in France. The Bellet wines are in limited production, so they can be hard to find outside of France and outside of the Nice region, for that matter. The artisan approach of the wineries produce wines which are original and full of character. The red wines are intense and rich. The Bellet rose wines are florid. The white wines are refined and aromatic. Here are my five top choices of Bellet wines.

The wineries are scattered around the Bellet region. Some are small, while others produce on a larger scale. Château de Bellet is the most well known wine producer. Its wines are perhaps easiest to access in restaurants and wine bars when visiting France.

For instance, Château de Bellet's Cuvee Baron G white wine can be found on the wine lists of the fine restaurants in Nice. Château de Bellet which has been making wines for centuries and you can tell. We sampled this wine at a seafood restaurant in Nice. It seems to capture the French Riviera region with its brilliant light, blue skies and luxurious ambiance. It is fragrant and flowery with a hint of oak, the perfect match for the super fresh unadulterated seafood of Nice. It is sold in the United States by Blue Coast Wine Imports.

For red wine lovers, try the Château de Bellet Cuvée Baron G. Rouge. Another wine worth trying is Château de Bellet Rosé 2007. It is crisp and refreshing. Lovely served chilled on a summer day. Chateaux Galoupet and Chateaux Crémat are other Bellet wines try, reknowned for their complex, original tastes.

The hunt for Bellet wines is part of the fun for wine lovers visiting Nice. Many producers are relatively small and do not speak English. However, the link at the end of this article includes helpful information, with a list of many of the Bellet wineries in France. It includes the Bellet winery websites where available. Visit the websites to find out more about buying the wines or arranging a visit. However, prepare for a challenging pursuit of some of the more rare wines. Bellet wines are unusual and sometimes hard to find, which only adds to their desirability.