It would be practically unheard of to spend time on the Cote d’Azur without sampling some of the region’s famous wines, in fact it wouldn’t just be unheard of, it would be darn right rude!

Vineyards on the Cote d’Azur are bounteous, as the mild sunny climate the region is blessed with, alongside the siliceous soils, which are permeable, stony and humus, makes it the perfect place to cultivating top-notch wine.

According to RedWine.co.uk, the annual production of wine on the Cote d’Azur is more than 160 million bottles, with almost 80% of this production being a dry, fruity rose, which the area has become most famous for.

Approximately 20% of the Cote d’Azur’s yearly production of wine is red, which are commonly fairly strong and full bodied. Only 5% are local winemaking is dedicated to white wines, which tend to be fresh and crisp, the perfect accompaniment for fish and seafood.

Despite the common belief that rose wine is a recent product of the winemaker’s art or is a mixture of red and white grapes, on the contrary, rose is in fact one of the earliest wines ever to have been made.

As the French government  imposes extremely strict laws about the making of wine in France, the highest quality wine carries a stamp of approval, known as the AOC (Appellation d’ Origin Controlee), which many of the bottles of wine on the Cote d’Azur possess.

Given the ubiquitous nature of wine on the Cote d’Azur, wine tours are common and popular throughout the Cote d’Azur and the Provence region as a whole, where wine tasting and winemaking courses take place throughout the year.

One of the biggest vineyards of the Cote d’Azur is the Chateau Sainte Roseline at les Arc-sur-Argens, which offers tours of the vineyard as well as the chapel and exquisite gardens adjoining the vinery.

Similar to gambling in Monaco, star-spotting on the Cote d’Azur, or eating some of the best of French cuisine in Cannes has become a luxury synonymous with the Cote d’Azur, wine and the making of it will never be separated from French Riviera life.

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