Wine Region Comparison: Premieres Cotes De Bordeaux and Cotes De Provence

France is home to Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and to Côtes de Provence, two robust wine-producing regions. While both of these wine regions are in the same country and pair well with local cuisine including seafood dishes, there are some distinct differences in the regions and the wines they produce.

Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Wine Region

The Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, located South of the city of Bordeax, and runs along the sunny right bank of the Garonne River. Because the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region is more than 30 miles long, the grapes are grown in a variety of soil types, on sloping hills overlooking the river.

Soils and Grape Varieties

Soils where grapes in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux grow include clay, gravel and limestone. Grapes used to make white wine in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region include Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle.

Grape varieties for red wines from the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region include Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, in decreasing amounts.

Wines

This Bordeaux wine region is known for a few different types of wine, including fruity red wines, dry white wines, sparkling wine, sweet white wines and both red and white wines which are essential ingredients in local cuisine. Aromatics include dark and deep red fruit flavors combined with a spiciness. Wines from this region, where the Romans were the first to plant grapes more than 2,000 years ago, include Château Mont-Pérat and Château Carignan.

Côtes de Provence Wine Region

Provence has inspired artists and writers for centuries, and its wine production is also inspiring, considering the region produces half of France's rosé wine. Similar to the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux region, the Côtes de Provence region thrives near water, specifically the French Riviera. Both areas are also sun-drenched, which makes the grapes thrive.

The Mistral

The Côtes de Provence grapes are subject to strong winds, namely The Mistral. The Mistral keeps humidity off the vines and is beneficial to the grape vine varieties, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Tibouren, in the region.

Wines

The Provence region, including the Côtes de Provence is known for its Rosé. Wines from the Côtes de Provence region include Houchart Sainte Victoire Rose and Chateau de Pourcieux Cotes de Provence Rosé. These Rosé wines pair best with appetizers, or an amuse-bouche, to amuse the palette before a meal. Côtes de Provence Rosé marry well with lobster, sea bass dishes, or with curries.

Sources:

Bordeaux, http://www.bordeaux.com
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Cadillac, http://www.premierescotesdebordeaux.com/default.asp?idlangue=2
Provence Wines Council, http://www.vinsdeprovence.com
Terroir-France, http://www.terroir-france.com
Wines of France, http://www.frenchwinesfood.com