Route De Saint-Tropez, 83340 Le Cannet-des-Maures

Invigorating and pleasantly persistent against a backdrop of mild spices, with a mineral, saline finish featuring white fruit

Grenache 67 %, Cinsault 21 %, Syrah 10 %, Rolle 10 % 

It allows us to develop our high-end segment

With two wineries in the Permian basin, characterized by siliceous clay soil and a restrictive climate with substantial fluctuations in temperature, “we are a big producer for the designation, making close to 700 hectolitres of DGC wine”, indicates the owner Guillaume de Chevron Villette, referring to his 140 hectolitres of red and 550 hectolitres of rosé. 

“We have a shared programme”, the wine-maker goes on, “in the form of this additional terroir designation, which presents our identity to the general public. And that’s just who we are. Our DGC emerged after others but in the same spirit. We regretted not having our own, not being able to show who we are. Even though it means reducing our production, it also allows us to develop our high-end segment of wines”, he explains.

Light pink colour. Subtle bouquet with notes of berries, juicy mango and citrus fruit. Silky and invigorating on the palate, with a touch of rich flavour and a berry finish.

An old family property dating back to Jean-Baptiste Colbert (17th century), Château Reillanne is located at the epicentre of both the Plaine des Maures National Nature Reserve and the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC.

Predominantly floral (honeysuckle) with fruity hints of mirabelle plums and tinned peaches

Grenache and Syrah are the preferred varietals in a lovely red, matured in vats according to traditional methods, with delicate notes of berries enhanced by a long finish. The time it spends in barrels is dependent on each vintage’s capacity in terms of strength. On the rosé side, Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and a dash of Rolle express all the virtues of this colour of wine grown from the specific terroir of Gonfaron/Pignans. “It is truly an authentic Provence wine, from the heart of the Var department, and characteristic of the region. It is chiefly floral, with a few hints of fresh citrus, as well as an aromatic array that is pleasing yet not explosive, and plenty of viscosity that makes you want to take another sip and another, without ever tiring of it”, Guillaume de Chevron Villette proclaims with expansive pride.

“Most of us are local to the area, real wine-makers who love our land, our terroir and our region”, adds Guillaume.

Château Reillanne is proud of its colours

Goes wonderfully with stone-grilled king prawns in a saffron sauce

747 Boulevard Bernard Long, 83175 Brignoles

Full-bodied, smooth, nicely balanced and persistent

Grenache 60%, Cinsault 19%, Tibouren 7%, Syrah 8%, Ugni blanc 5%, Mourvèdre 1%

It was the result of solid relationships between producers 

This major union in the region operates within Notre-Dame des Anges, whose additional terroir designation (DGC) offers it the opportunity to upgrade its rosés. “This opening of the market was the result of the solid relationships between producers in the area and their desire to promote their unique terroir”, emphasizes Philippe Brel, GM of Estandon Cooperative in Provence.

“That difference was enough to confirm the utility of a specific designation, which clearly goes hand in hand with the premiumization of Provence wines”, Philippe Brel explains. “This necessitated a multi-layered approach: work on the collective brand, work by everyone on their own upgrades, and advance work by the producers on their product portfolios and on an analysis of their potential.”

Notre-Dame des Anges has a clear, bright colour with glints of peony, and a nose of white fruit and flowers. On the palate, it is full-bodied, fresh and slightly spicy, with notes of exotic fruit.

Light pink, clear and bright with glints of peony

Estandon, an old brand created after the Second World War, joined the local wine cooperative in 2005 and then, in 2012, became the name of that cooperative of 250 wine-makers in Provence.

Estandon’s Notre-Dame des Anges rosé embodies that strong identity with an enormous crocodile printed on the label, a replica on paper of the stuffed creature hanging from the ceiling of the chapel at the sanctuary in Pignans. This personalized, historical visual tells the story of the product and its environment to consumers who are increasingly interested in understanding what they are drinking. It also reflects the (good) nature of this rosé. Made primarily of Provence’s three star varietals, Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, it charms consumers with its youthful freshness, invites them on a flavourful journey with its exotic fruit, makes their pleasure last with its long finish, and awakens their senses with its slightly spicy notes.

“It’s a good thing that the members of the cooperative promote the wine at their individual wineries, as this also showcases our role as brokers, particularly since we foster its development through our active sales forces”, notes Philippe.

With Notre-Dame des Anges, Estandon is bolstering (its) brand image

Being a part of this collective adventure

On this calcareous clay land made of very red Permian sandstone – which is very difficult to work – the Cellar Master and Site Manager Nicolas Pérolini devotes the vineyard’s Notre-Dame des Anges production to none other than red, bearing in mind that some 15 hectares of land are classified for the DGC. This high-end wine, in a blend of mostly Syrah (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), spends time in special 225-litre barrels from Bordeaux.

“We have always made a lot of red here. Although rosé accounts for about 60% of our wine, that is still well below the average for Côtes de Provence”, Nicolas Pérolini explains. “This one is spicy and peppery, with hints of dark berries and roasted aromas which are extended through its long finish.”

Dark ruby red colour with crimson glints. The intense, complex nose features deep aromas of dark berries and roasted coffee, elevated by subtle eucalyptus notes. On the palate, its velvety tannins give it a truly sensuous feel. The aromas of garrigue and menthol linger deliciously through the long finish.

Owned by the Sénéclauze family since 2007, Château Lauzade has 50 hectares of grapevines between Le Luc and Gonfaron, at the edge of the Permian basin.

High Environmental Value and Bee Friendly

“It’s important to be a part of this collective adventure”, the Cellar Master rhapsodizes. “Our colleagues in Sainte-Victoire, La Londe, Fréjus and Pierrefeu understood this and wanted to obtain DGC status, just as we have now. This leaves a strong mark on our respective identities and serves the image of Côtes de Provence as a whole. We have a variety of terroirs, with naturally different climates, that affect the when and how the grapes ripen, as well as how we think about, work and harvest the vines and make our wines.”

“It’s very humid here in winter and very dry in the summer. Our products stand out more or less from the others, even within the same region, for their colour, acidity and the number of flavour properties”, Nicolas adds.

Red is in the DNA of Château Lauzade’s NDA wine

Sea urchin, grilled rockfish or tandoori chicken

Avenue Georges Clemenceau D97, 83590 Gonfaron

Full-bodied and generous with a mouth-watering lemony finish

Eric Pastorino, President of the winery, is delighted by the terroir’s DGC designation. “In addition to characterizing us, this DGC also makes us stand out from the rest and reveals our remarkable, recognizable typicity.” Sophie Bettencourt, a member of the cooperative winery, adds that “it’s also a way to respond to the expectations of consumers who are increasingly curious about what we do and who pay a lot of attention to innovation and originality. In addition, as farmers and wine-makers, we sculpt the landscapes in our regions through our work and our passion. Talking about our wines is another way to communicate that!”.

The first vintage of a Notre-Dame des Anges rosé has already earned multiple medals, including a gold medal at the General Agricultural Competition in Paris. A wine intentionally positioned at the top of the range, embodying the DGC. The label of the Côtes de Provence Notre-Dame des Anges Rosé includes an illustration referencing the legend of Gonfaron’s famous flying donkey, as a means of marking its (economic) take-off.

Aromatic power and a full body are undeniably the key strengths of this fine wine. The nose is intense, with aromas of exotic fruits. On the palate, it is expansive and fruity, with a tart, mouth-watering lemony finish.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, Terres Ailées de Gonfaron winery reported 100 hectares of grapevines classified as Notre-Dame des Anges, out of the 550 total hectares cultivated by cooperative’s 130+ members.

Half of the winery’s land is certified as being of High Environmental Value

Exotic fruit (pineapple) and mango with slight notes of black currant

Rosé Côtes de Provence Notre-Dame des Anges 

Grown on the best blocks in the vast Notre-Dame des Anges region, with 1,200 hectolitres of wine produced, it primarily uses Grenache Noir (86%), Syrah noir (8%) and a little bit of Rolle (6%). A portion of it (10%) is vinified in oak barrels to “differentiate it from other rosés and add a touch of complexity, bearing in mind that the wood remains subtle in the finished product”, explains the winery’s oenologist, Séverine Duha. She also offers her expert assessment of its “aromas of pineapple, mango and toast, with a pleasant body and a slightly lemony finish that lingers on with a dash of acidity”.

“We are very attached to our shared foundation built on the Côtes de Provence AOC, but the DGC resonates with us, as the reward for our collective desire to improve how we share our extraordinary terroir”, Sophie declares.

A “legendary” rosé from Terres Ailées de Gonfaron

Ideal with chirashi sushi or salmon tartare

Route de Notre Dame des Anges, 83590 Gonfaron

Nice and lively on the palate, shifting into spicy, peppery notes; great body with a mineral, saline finish

This new designation showcases the work done on the ground

The vineyard was completely reorganized and awakened from its slumber thanks to intelligent services of the oenology lab at BTOEV Consulting (in Draguignan), which Alain Place gave an expanded remit running from advice to management of the vineyard. “Starting with a blank slate, we wrote up the new identity and strategy of L’Heure Bleue together, assisted by the precious support of those professionals. We decided to emphasize quality over quantity, as well as organic cultivation, under the Côtes de Provence AOC. This approach has been rewarded on multiple occasions, with medals both national and regional”, Alain Place states with pride.

L’Heure Bleue has two growing zones spanning a total of 11 hectares, one in Carnoules and the other in Gonfaron, where Notre-Dame des Anges grapes are grown on four hectares of calcareous clay soil. “That recognizable red rock is very attractive for the minerality and smoothness that we look for when making wine, before it can be enjoyed from the bottle”, explains Margaux Armand-Vauchelet of the BTOEV Consulting lab.

Pale pink in colour, with a few glints of silver. Its bouquet features lemony and spicy aromatics evolving into notes of white fruit. On the palate, the attack is energetic, accompanied by a full, velvety structure enhanced by a spicy character. Take a moment to savour the aromas of citrus and ginger, followed by a saline, mineral finish.

When he took over the vineyard in 2012, Alain Place carried on the “Chti” tradition of this Provence winery which had belonged since 1957 to his “compatriots” from the north of France. Perched in an “angel’s nest” at an altitude of 300 metres, directly below Notre-Dame.

Lemony with a few notes of white and citrus fruit and spicy touches of ginger

Although the vineyard produces wine in all three colours, only its high-end rosé falls under the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC. Named Aube Azur, it is made mainly of Grenache and Cinsault, with some Syrah added into the blend. “This wine boasts a delicate, fruity attack”, the oenologist notes. “You can taste the smoothness and minerality in a harmonious, elegant final product that makes you want to fill your glass again and again…” She is thrilled with this new designation, which showcases the work done on the ground.

“The Notre-Dame des Anges DGC is leaving its mark on the topography of our growing zone, boosts its visibility and allows us to claim our wines’ specific qualities and properties within the Côtes de Provence family”, remarks Alain.

L’Heure Bleue drinks the DGC through rose-coloured glasses 

World cuisine, apple upside-down cake, pear charlotte, rum baba, etc.

The DGC is a source of pride for President Lionel Asin and the cooperative’s 50 members: “this recognition of quality, expertise, typicity and complexity accentuated by the great diversity in our soil. This designation puts what we already knew into words, and it’s important for us to share this originality and get our name on the map.”

Lionel Asin also appreciates that the challenge was met as a group, between “united wine-makers with a real team spirit, which allowed us to see this lengthy project through to the end. We are all imbued with the Côtes de Provence identity and want to further open the market in a qualitative way.”

Elegant and delicate with a pale salmon colour. A silky attack leading into a generous mouthfeel full of yellow fruit. A wine that’s all about finesse.

Les Vignerons du Luc winery is celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2021, making it one of the oldest wineries. Its terroir is vast, spanning 380 hectares of grapevines, including 40+ classified as Côtes de Provence Notre-Dame des Anges.

A subtle blend of exotic fruits like mangoes and more

The 40 hectares of Notre-Dame des Anges vines are located by the Plaine des Maures boundary of its total area, with soil primarily made of sandstone and sand, where the grapes used in Baleti Manifi are produced. In a subtle balance of Grenache (around 60%) and Cinsault (the remaining 40% or so), that wine is a “delicate, elegant rosé with a bouquet of white fruit and a generous mouthfeel in which viscosity, citrus and other fruit intermingle, creating a delightful aromatic power across the board. All of this may of course vary slightly depending on the year, the harvest, the climate, and so on. There is always a degree of uncertainty, discovery and evolution, which is what makes our wines so charming, but also demands a great command of the whole process. It’s truly a wine-maker’s wine!”

“A bottle from a producer encapsulates an encounter with their passion and expertise. All of this exists in our products, including in this Notre-Dame des Anges rosé”, claims Lionel Asin.

Rosé is amplified at Les Vignerons du Luc

This rosé is delightful with many dishes, from cocktail hour to dessert: when paired with olives, light summer dishes, all sorts of grilled meat, Provençal stuffed foods, fromage frais, or desserts featuring summer fruit, and is sure to win new fans when served with fine cuisine.

Fruit-forward on the attack followed by spicy notes, with a lovely persistence, both round and fruity

Since then, so many roads have been travelled and so much soil has been turned on the 32 hectares of grapevines, next to 17 hectares of olive groves and 95 hectares of Mediterranean forest. “The vines were pulled up and replanted, and everything is now organic, from our wine to our oil”, Anne Chenevas-Paule, Administrative & Commercial Director of Château Demonpère, asserts with pride.

“The vineyard was acquired at the beginning of the DGC process, and we naturally joined the movement and participated in its evolution, up until we achieved official recognition. It’s the wine-makers’ passion that will make our Côtes de Provence DGC a success at the top of the line”, she proclaims. At it’s precisely at that top of the line that Château Demonpère wants to get consumers to drink the two official colours, rosé and red.

A generous rosé with a lovely gourmet balance.

Ten years ago, the owner Yves Journel came to Domaine de la Pardiguière, to breathe new life into it and give it a new name, with a charming nod to the Provence recounted by Marcel Pagnol (the name of the winery translates to “My Father’s Castle”, an amalgamation of his novels My Mother’s Castle and My Father’s Glory).

Very expressive and complex, with notes of rose, lychee, berries and spices

Administrative & Sales Director, and Benoît Laure, General Manager & Cellar Master

It produces 40.5 hectolitres of gourmet rosé in gorgeous Marius “Diamond Point” bottles. This wine is a sure thing, described by the Administrative & Commercial Director as “angelic”, full of juicy fruit and berries, with notes of lychee and spices, made from Grenache (70%), Cinsault (20%) and Rolle (10%, accentuating its paleness). On the red side of things, the 35 hectolitres of wine spend a year in oak barrels (40%), in a blend of Syrah (dominant) and Grenache, resulting in a powerful, tannic wine with notes of red and dark berries and spices.

“Our wine is readily identifiable for its unique taste. This means it is very important to differentiate it by means of a dedicated designation, which is where the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC comes into play”, notes Anne Chenevas-Paule.

Château Demonpère cultivates authenticity

Persistent and generous, with the citrus emerging in a saline finish

“The first year of the designation only applied to a hectare of production and only rosé”, Fanny Lamoot reveals. “It was an excellent wine made from Grenache (70%) and Cinsault (30%), which we named Frisson des Anges (“Angels’ Shiver”). The name suits it well, with its explosion of flavour, its balance between fruit, flowers and even clementines, and its long finish (very important)… And it won the gold medal at the very first competition of the season, in Brignoles!”.

This is a real distinction in terms of quality, recognition from her peers which, along with the label, produces a total package designed with particular care.

A pale pink colour with an expressive nose, featuring a lovely array of fruit, from citrus fruit like mandarin orange to berries (raspberries). On the palate, it is persistent and generous, with the citrus emerging in a saline finish.

Fanny and her husband Anthony Lamoot bought Domaine de la Garnaude in 2013, a longstanding vineyard in Gonfaron. With great passion, they launched a conversion of the growing methods, of which the Operations Manager is very proud.

Expressive, featuring a lovely array of fruit: citrus fruit like mandarin orange as well as berries (raspberries)

There is also a sense of pride in being a part of this new process which “propels the local supply upwards, as part of a collective commitment and a shared vision. Being in Côtes de Provence was already very good, and the DGC adds a personalized identity that reflects our terroir, our climate, our community and the hard work done by the people on the ground. It’s appealing to be able to take this kind of action and then talk about it to our customers, explaining who we are and why it is important to differentiate ourselves, and showing off our unique qualities and our desire to continuously strive for ever better quality”, she explains from her vineyard, fully steeped in Notre-Dame des Anges thanks a location across from the chapel of the same name…

“We have never made such a great wine, that was so high-end, in line with the stated intentions of the DGC. It is a gourmet rosé, with plenty of body and viscosity”, Fanny expounds.

Domaine de la Garnaude will send a shiver down your spine

Stuffed courgette flowers, asparagus risotto or almond-crusted fillet of bass

Route des Mayons - La Tuilière, 83590 Gonfaron

In terms of quality, because it offers a guarantee in that area

“Our soil, mixed with sand and sediment from the Aille River, can be hard to work”, confides Murielle Schlicklin, Vineyard Manager and Cellar Master. But that doesn’t affect how superb the setting is. Although the vineyard has the potential to grow 17 hectares of Notre-Dame des Anges DGC grapes, “we are switching over gradually, as we currently produce 2,000 bottles of red and the same amount of rosé”.

The red is a blend made of mostly Syrah (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented using traditional methods, in open barrels where it is aged for at least a year. The resulting wine exudes a delightful bouquet of berries combined with notes of vanilla, roasted coffee, and is pleasingly round. Old Grenache (70%) and Cinsault (30%) combine to make a delicate, fruit-forward “terroir rosé”, as Murielle Schlicklin describes it, with 40% vinified in barrels. It is characterized by apricot, peach and lychee, creating a subtle impression of sweetness.

A fragrant bouquet featuring white flower aromas, a full-bodied mouthfeel, viscosity on the attack and aromas of white fruit, with notes of honey and a deliciously long finish.

Separated from the village of Les Mayons by the Réal River and spreading out over 25 hectares of grapevines at the bottom of the Plaine des Maures, Château Réal d’Or in Gonfaron saw its first vines planted in 1946.

“It’s important for the region’s vineyards and wineries to take advantage of the collective work that was done to achieve our DGC, in terms of quality – because it offers a guarantee in that area – as well as the identification of our special features and our terroir. Although we are a part of Côtes de Provence, a Notre-Dame des Anges is not the same as a La Londe or a Pierrefeu, for example. The wine’s expressiveness is different, particularly as concerns our unique viscosity which coats the mouth and lingers on the palate, our salmon pink colours and our low level of acidity.” All these aspects, amongst others, are a reflection of the wines and unite them, typically in the form of high-end vintages, like here, which require wine-makers to go above and beyond the call of duty…

“People like seeing the winery. They’re interested in what they eat and drink. It’s important to be able to talk to them about these new, high-quality wines that we tend to with such care, and about our environment, share our passion with them and, at the same time, entice them”, Murielle explains.

Notre-Dame flows through the heart of Réal d’Or

74 chemin de la Fouquette - Route de Gonfaron, 83340 Les Mayons

A fresh attack evolving into a balanced finish with pleasant aromas of white and citrus fruit, featuring a mouth-watering, slightly bitter aftertaste

They both completely changed their lives, switching from medicine and biomedical research to cultivating this “home” land in Les Mayons, a pretty little village in the Maures part of Provence. Their future shifted to a rural one, in the world of wine, with a dedication to organic cultivation beginning in 2010, and served by a rich terroir and continental climate.

“The DGC process, which we launched as a group more than 10 years ago, was motivated by a desire to prove that rosés are also terroir wines, with their own history and special characteristics, depending on the location. It stands for a commitment made by wine-makers. Our application’s approval by the INAO [French Institute of Origin and Quality] represents recognition of the quality of our wine and is an opportunity to upgrade our products within the Côtes de Provence AOC, as some of our other fellow DGCs have already done in the region.”

A pretty, pale salmon pink colour. The bouquet is expressive and complex. The mouthfeel is balanced, with a fresh attack shifting into aromatic notes of white and citrus fruit. A slightly bitter, mouth-watering finish that lingers on the palate.

Domaine La Fouquette is a family venture, handed down from generation to generation. Since 2004, it has been in the hands of the third generation, in the person of Isabelle and her husband Jean-Pierre Daziano.

Intense and complex, with notes of citrus and white fruit

Although all the blocks could produce Notre-Dame des Anges DGC wine, the proprietors chose to set their sights on their Pierres de Moulin rosé wine, a blend of traditional varietals – Grenache (45%), Syrah (30%) and Cinsault (25%) – in a light peach pink colour, with a bouquet of exotic and citrus fruit that carries through to the palate in a lovely, fresh combination. Elegant harmony between acidity and alcohol, punctuated by pleasing bitterness at the finish. They also chose their only red, Bonne Chère, for the NDA DGC. It is powerful, generous and tannic, giving full expression to the fruitiness of the primary varietal Syrah, with Grenache and Carignan further complementing the wine.

“The combined influence of the Permian basin and the Plaine des Maures leads to significant temperature fluctuations, between extreme cold in the winter and extreme dryness in the summer, allowing us to produce a fantastic range of balanced wines”, Jean-Pierre explains.

Domaine La Fouquette, a branch on the DGC family tree

400 Chemin du Domaine de Matheron, 83550 Vidauban

Fresh and delicate, the aromas of the nose evolve into notes of pink grapefruit and blackcurrant

It’s an opportunity to surpass yourself

The Notre-Dame des Anges DGC potentially covers 7 hectares here, straddling various blocks, although the choice was made to focus on just 1 hectare to launch this high-end segment. “I decided to concentrate on rosé. We already had a very popular Prestige red. It now has a little sister in the form of the M’ Prestige Notre-Dame des Anges rosé, which is the perfect addition to our entry-level and mid-range rosés. That rosé undergoes a special vinification technique, particularly in terms of skin maceration, which is characteristic of its identity. It’s a wine that is meant to be enjoyed with food – even fine cuisine. It is made primarily of Tibouren (50%), Grenache (40%) and a splash of Syrah (10%).”

Featuring a beautiful salmon pink colour, a little more intense than in some of the region’s other, paler rosés. Its nose is long but not too explosive, and the body is full, with great density. It is evocative of berries, such as raspberries.

Its glistening light salmon pink colour with glints of deep purple will bewitch you as it pulls you into a wide variety of aromas and fragrances. The fine, fresh attack is reminiscent of berries like raspberry and redcurrant, which then evolve into notes of pink grapefruit and blackcurrant. Your palate will be fascinated by the smooth, fresh sensations, spiced up by a touch of character.

Light salmon pink, a gleaming colour with deep purple glints

At Château Matheron, Paul Bernard is the face of the seventh generation of wine-makers in his family. In 1992, he took over the reins of this vineyard in Vidauban, which he then converted to his style and his vision.

Paul Bernard considers the move to a DGC to be a “form of progress in the wine-maker’s work. It’s an opportunity to surpass yourself. We have all been working hard on our wines for years. And now this wine also offers a chance to inject even more quality but also to explain it all to our customers and, at the same time, to tell them all about our history, that of the vineyard and even the history of rosé wine in Provence. People want to get to know and understand the terroir. We talk about the weather and its connection to the terroir, to provide a better illustration of what makes our wines stand out within the Côtes de Provence AOC that unites us, which is how the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC earned its stripes.”

“We didn’t want a DGC just to have a DGC. It’s really a factor that helps consumers understand what they buy and drink…” Paul adds.

Typical Mediterranean dishes like bouillabaisse, aïoli and anchoïade

Spreading the word about this new designation

In this vast expanse of land, old, low-yield blocks on the Plaine des Maures have been identified for the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC, on hard schist soil with a complex microclimate that “stresses the vines beginning in early July each year”.

Clément Lagana, Cellar Master of Maîtres Vignerons de Vidauban, explains that “for us, this is an additional wine that we can position at the top of the range, signalling an upgrade in quality for our cooperative winery”. This new market segment is being targeted with great ambition, even though this is only the beginning of the collective adventure. “We need to spread the word about this new designation, as the other successful Côtes de Provence DGCs have done.”

Bright peach pink colour. An intense bouquet leaning towards citrusy notes (grapefruit and exotic fruit). A full, generous body driven by a delightfully tart structure. On the palate, the exotic side detected by the nose is fulfilled. A long, slightly bitter finish.

This winery has existed for more than 100 years (it was founded in 1912). It is a collective with over 100 members and spans 350 hectares of grapevines, in the heart of the Côtes de Provence AOC.

Their high-end rosé, Cuvée Prestige, is a blend of three of Provence’s favourite varietals: Grenache (65%), Cinsault (20%) and Syrah (15%). Thanks to its thiols, enhanced by the Grenache and Syrah being left to sit for about two weeks, this rosé is “very heady, without excessive exuberance but with a long finish. It is also pleasing to the nose and keeps its fragrant promises when tasted, marked by its citrusy notes of pink grapefruit. And it’s great structure is no barrier to its finesse”, Clément Lagana asserts.

“We were able to be listed on the menu at an excellent restaurant in the region thanks to our new Notre-Dame des Anges rosé. Other major dining establishments are sure to follow. This is new for us specifically and for cooperative wineries in general”, enthuses Clément.

A “Masterful” advantage for the wine-makers of Vidauban

Line sea bass sashimi with pink peppercorn or steamed salmon with timut pepper

Route de la Garde Freinet, 83340 Le Cannet-des-Maures

Fruit-forward, balanced by spice, delicately wrapped around the very fine structure as the wine’s finish is drawn out

Grenache 40%, Cinsault 40%, Rolle 10%, Divers 10%

The DGC respects our topography and our differences

“We are in the crystalline zone of the Plaine des Maures, with parts of the property below sea level and plenty of altered sandstone in the soil. This creates sandy earth with great filtering capacities”, explains Winery Manager Alexis Cornu.

“That’s the secret behind the delicacy of our wines, and also their light mouthfeel, bearing in mind that the mineral salts are what provides the flavour, or the minerality. The DGC respects our topography and our differences, with the major challenges of promoting our terroir rosés and our vineyards’ styles and varieties. Because of all that, we absolutely support the Notre-Dame des Anges designation.”

Rascas is a rare wine, crafted through the meticulous selection of the best juices and partially matured in the choicest barrels. It is only produced after the best growing years.

The legacy of an old game preserve belonging to Jean-Baptiste Colbert (17th century), located in a Natura 2000 protected area, Château des Bertrands is an invitation on a journey back in time.

High Environmental Value, in the process of converting to Organic Farming

Intense and rich in exotic fruit (papaya) and ripe summer fruit (vineyard peach), underscored by a delicate woodiness from a very noble tradition

For the time being, Rascas is the only wine chosen by Alexis Cornu for the Notre-Dame des Anges DGC. “We are targeting fine restaurants, and this wine, which emphasizes the pairing of terroir with varietals, is perfect for that kind of placement, and for the spirit of Notre-Dame des Anges, too. We primarily use Cinsault, blended with Grenache, plus a splash of Rolle to accentuate its paleness. The large proportion of Cinsault adds an extra layer to its initial finesse. Its main characteristics are its focus on fruit like peaches and pears, a touch of spice, delicate bitters and charming persistence.”

He believes this strong personality fits perfectly with the DGC process. “The aim is to refine perceptions of each terroir. I have been campaigning for this for a like time, to overcome the stereotype that all rosé are interchangeable”, Alexis explains.

Delicacy is de rigueur at Château des Bertrands

Rond-point du Pont d'Argens - BP 70022, 83460 Les Arcs-sur-Argens

Aromas of passion fruit and mandarin orange pair elegantly with notes of pear blossom, ending with a lovely persistent freshness

“We are located in the town of Les Arcs”, explains Wine Merchant Jérôme Pawlowski, “on the eastern edge of the DGC, with large numbers of old vines, with the best southern exposure and very low yields. It’s wine by the hectare here, with a climate that is echoed in the viscosity of our wine, primarily rosés."

“After careful consideration of our positioning and our opportunities with Michel Julien, the President of Cellier des Archers, we made the decision to take up the challenge of obtaining DGC status, even though relatively few of our grapevines are concerned. Still, they’re gorgeous and worked with skill by our cooperative’s members”, notes Jérôme Pawlowski. We need to build our history together and breathe life into the DGC and our products on a higher – and more expensive – segment. We advocate quality. It’s well worth the effort, for all of us."

Arcs Ange is made of grapes from a meticulous selection of blocks of vines cultivated by four producers. It is a gourmet rosé, full of finesse and complexity, that will delight even the most refined palates.

With a new building constructed in 2016, fitted with modern, high-tech equipment, Cellier des Archers, a cooperative winery founded in 1923, carries on a local tradition that is nearly 100 years old.

In honour of the three flagship varietals of Provence rosés, Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, the latest vintage of our Arcs Ange wine made extensive use of this last grape, which is more abundant in that part of the terroir of Cellier des Archers and whose early maturity “brought out the fruit, more specifically the blackcurrant thiol, rounded out by a citrusy array of amyl alcohols”. It features a sunny gourmet side, comfortable in its Côtes de Provence skin but asserting its own unique identity as an added advantage.

“This is a personal adventure, amongst friends for many members of the Notre-Dame des Anges association, united by a shared desire to share our passion for our land, our wine and our work, all the way through to our relationships with consumers”, Jérôme continues.

Cellier des Archers, focused on Arcs Ange

A peak in Provence

Château Reillanne

Le Cannet-des-Maures

Estandon Coopérative en Provence

Brignoles

Château Lauzade

Le Luc

Terres Ailées de Gonfaron

Gonfaron

Domaine de l'Heure Bleue

Gonfaron

Les Vignerons du Luc

Le Luc

Château Demonpère

Le Luc

Domaine de la Garnaude

Gonfaron

Château Réal d’Or

Gonfaron

Domaine de la Fouquette

Les Mayons

Château Matheron

Vidauban

Maîtres Vignerons de Vidauban

Vidauban

Château Des Bertrands

Le Cannet-des-Maures

Cellier des Archers

Les Arcs-sur-Argens

What is
a DGC ?

A peak in Provence

Château Reillanne

Le Cannet-des-Maures

Estandon Coopérative en Provence

Brignoles

Château Lauzade

Le Luc

Terres Ailées de Gonfaron

Gonfaron

Domaine de l'Heure Bleue

Gonfaron

Les Vignerons du Luc

Le Luc

Château Demonpère

Le Luc

Domaine de la Garnaude

Gonfaron

Château Réal d’Or

Gonfaron

Domaine de la Fouquette

Les Mayons

Château Matheron

Vidauban

Maîtres Vignerons de Vidauban

Vidauban

Château Des Bertrands

Le Cannet-des-Maures

Cellier des Archers

Les Arcs-sur-Argens

What isa DGC ?

What is
a DGC ?