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The AOC Ventoux (until 2008 still "Côtes du Ventoux"), which has existed since 1973, is one of the large appellations of the southern Rhone. It covers almost 6,000 hectares around the Mont Ventoux in the north, which gives the appellation its name, and extends south to the borders of the AOC Luberon, the south-westernmost wine-growing region of the Rhone. The wine-growing tradition of the area is ancient; according to recent estimates, its beginning can be dated quite precisely to the time around 30 BC.

The climate here is clearly Mediterranean and, with an average of 2800 hours of sunshine, is at a European record level. After an often humid spring, the summers here are usually very dry - only it is not always as hot as one would expect. The main culprit is the mistral, an often stiff, cold downdraft wind that rushes down the Rhone from the northwest, often literally out of the blue and then for days on end. What can cost holidaymakers their last nerve is a blessing for viticulture here. Diseases have a very hard time because the wind dries moisture quickly. The additional cooling plays a decisive role in ensuring that the grapes retain fresh aromas even when they are very sugar-ripe.

However, the soil in terms of form and substance is also decisive for the quality of the wines. Ventoux consists mainly of extensive alluvial land, which is generally somewhat higher than most other appellations in the southern Rhone. This circumstance also undoubtedly contributes to the greater freshness of many Ventoux wines, because the nights in particular tend to be somewhat cooler here in comparison. In the east, the area finally meets the large molasse plateau of Vaucluse, which helps to shape the soils. Sand, marl, gravel and limestone are found in alternating compositions. The varieties cultivated here - essentially Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault for red and rosè, and Grenache blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier for the white wines - are well adapted to the conditions, but one can imagine that the water storage capacity of the subsoil has a considerable influence on the subsequent wine character.

The wines of the Ventoux are correspondingly diverse. The reds can be light and drinkable, but also substantial, powerful and complex. The best of them still taste juicy and surprisingly fresh even at high alcohol levels. Of course, there are always quite simple, one-dimensional or rustic examples, but the number of pleasing to excellent wines has increased considerably in the last 20 years. Prices have hardly kept up with this development, so that you can still get even remarkably good red Ventoux for a few euros.

Rosés account for almost a third of wine production in the region. Ideally, they are fresh, polished and juicy and then also more than worth their usually low price. However, they usually do not reach the class of the neighbouring Luberon. The whites, on the other hand, were remarkably good. Although white wine plays only a marginal role here (the share of the total production is just 4%), we did not encounter any disappointing wine in the whole tasting, the majority was even extremely pleasing.

We have recently tasted a good 70 wines from the AOC Ventoux, the best of which we present to you here and, as always, also as a handy PDF as always. Links to all the wines tasted and their producers as well as the detailed wine descriptions can be found by clicking on the respective headings.

Red wines

Rosé

  • 85WP 2017 Domaine de la Pigeade
  • 85WP 2017 "Okris", Marrenon
  • 85WP 2017 "Cuvée des Restanques", Domaine du Tix
  • 85WP 2017 Domaine de Fondrèche
  • 85WP 2017 Cave TerraVentoux

White wines

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