Côtes du Luberon AOC

Côtes du Luberon AOC (wine region)
Type	AOC
Year established	1988
Years of wine industry	2,000
Country	France
Part of	Rhône Valley
Climate region	mediterranean
Soil conditions	calcerous marl, Miocene sands and molasse
Size of planted vineyards	2,712
No. of vineyards	450
Grapes produced	Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre Carignan, Counoise Noir, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir
Wine produced	red, white, rosé
Comments	Data from 2005
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Côtes du Luberon is a French wine-growing AOC in the southeastern extreme of the Rhône wine region of France, where the wines are produced in 36 communes of the Vaucluse département. The neighbouring appellation of Côtes de Ventoux AOC stretches along its northern border and is separated by the Calavon river. The southern limit of the region is marked by the Durance river.

Economy

The Côtes du Luberon wines are produced by a total of 495 concerns which include 480 growers, 55 private wineries, 14 cooperative wineries, and one producer/merchant. The vineyards are in the communes of Ansouis, Apt, La Bastide-des-Jourdans, La Bastidonne, Beaumont-de-Pertuis, Bonnieux, Cabrières-d'Aigues, Cadenet, Castellet, Cheval-Blanc, Cucuron, Goult, Grambois, Lacoste, Lauris, Lourmarin, Maubec, Ménerbes, Mérindol, Mirabeau, La Motte-d'Aigues, Puget, Puyvert, Robion, Saignon, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque, Sannes, Taillades, La Tour-d'Aigues, Vaugines, Villelaure, Vitrolles-en-Luberon.^[1]

Wines

A red wine from the Côtes du Luberon.

Red wines are made from Grenache Noir and Syrah , 60%, (of which Syrah minimum 10%), Cinsault maximum 20%, Mourvèdre Carignan, maximum 20% other accepted varieties are: Counoise, Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir

Rosé: The same varieties are used as for the red, and up to 20% of the allowed varieties for white wine may be used.

White wines from Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, maximum 50%, Roussanne and Marsanne together to a maximum of 20%.

The minimum alcohol for all three colours is decreed at 11%.

The reds are well balanced and flexible, the rosés fresh and nervous, and the whites are fresh and well rounded. All wines are generally consumed while they are still young.

References

1. ^ INAO, April 2007