Welcome to the wonderful vineyards of the Nice city of France! This touristic city is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and has a fascinating Mediterranean climate and culture enriched by breathtaking wines. This is the wine blog post number two of the series of Wine Trails by Wine4Food: a tasting tour of the vineyards of the region of Nice, with a focus on the art of making wine.

History of viticulture in Nice

Wine making business in Nice can be traced back to yesteryears. The climate including a mild winter season is therefore suitable for the growth of the vines which requires a warm weather all year round. The intrinsic talents of this terre were not unnoticed and the Romans were the first to appreciate the possibility to cultivate vineyards in Nice. By and by, vinification methods were incorporated employing traditional and innovative comer, for presenting throughout the world wines which respect regional emotions and competence.

Wine regions of Nice and its surroundings

País, as well as the surrounding areas, has several wine producing areas which will be described below as follows; As I have stated before, there are recommended wine regions worth a visit;

Bellet

The wine region of Bellet is situated on the hillsides to the northwest of Nice and it has been widely practiced in the production of wines. This is a small but interesting appellation that mainly offers white wines that originate mainly from the Rolle grape variety also referred to as Vermentino. The climate and the environment make the wines of Bellet zestful and harmonic containing an articulate aroma.

Coasts of Provence

Running from Nice onwards and up to the eastern part of the Rhone River, the Côtes de Provence has hundreds of vineyards that are instrumental in the production of wines in this area. It is one of the largest wine producers and majority of the wines produced in this region is rosé wine which is prepared from grapes like Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Non-vintage: As exciting and invigorating as a day at the beach, the current range of Côtes de Provence rosés remain true to the Provençal spirit.

Var

Just like Nice, Var is another wine region situated to the northwest of the region also known as Côtes de Provence. This territory has a warm climate and various kinds of soil to grow red grape varieties as well as the white grape varieties. Var wines are rich in taste, multi-layered and can be stored for a relatively long period of time.

Remarkable grape varieties

Let us move to the specific types of grapes that are used to make Nice wines extraordinary. Here are a few notable ones:

Vermentino

Also referred as Rolle, Vermentino is among the white grape variety that is popular in the Bellet area. The wines of Vermentino have high acidity, citrus tones and floral notes and therefore complement summer times and seafood dishes.

Grenaches

Grenache is a red variety that gravitates towards the warm climate areas of Nice and the nearby regions. Mourvedre can be identified through having soft tannins, red fruit flavours and hints of spice when produced from Grenache. In the Côtes de Provence region, it is very common to blend Grenache with other wines to offer full-bodied Rosé wines.

Cinsault

Cinsault is considered to be one of the major red wine grape variety for producing wines of the rosé styled wines that are famous in Provence. It adds a slight taste of fruits, low viscosity to the blend and a floral note which also assist in improving on the balance of the wine.

Visit the vineyards of Nice

Wine tasting and the possibility to get familiar with the secrets of grape processing at vineyards located in Nice also should be noted. For those interested in wine, most of the wine producing vineyards can be visited and one can even be taken round the vineyard on a guided tour followed by tasting. Below are some recommendations of vineyards that you should visit:

Bellet Castle

Château de Bellet is an extraordinary property that dates back to the seventeenth century and is located on the picturesque hills of Nice. Here you must see the vine yard and savor the excellent Bellet wines, which are Rolle and red wine blends.

Toasc Estate

Established in the vineyard of Bellet, Domaine de Toasc gives pride of place to the roots and identity of the area. They utilize both conventional and advanced techniques so that they can produce wines that would fascinate the consumer’s taste buds.

Cremat Castle

This wonderful residence is situated on the top of the hill with a splendid view of Nice and the great Mediterranean sea. With an area of 55 hectares, which are located in the North of Rhône, Château de Crémat has pleasure to offer not only magnificent views but also the variety of its wines – white, rosé and red. The winery also hosts events and private tastings.

Wine tours and events

In order to get more direct and interactive experience of the wines produced in Nice, it would be beneficial to take a wine tour or visit a wine event. There are also local tour agencies that can give a detailed description of wine making process, explaining a visit to the vineyards as well as offering wine tasting service.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the region of Nice and its vicinity offer a large number of wine events all year round so that everyone may try wines from this area. Look for wine festivals, fairs and markets at which it is possible to meet the wine makers and other people, interested in wine.

The pleasure of good wine

Any discovery of Nice’s vineyards is not complete without the testing the culture of wine tasting. Wine is a part of life in the Nice area whether it is a Vermentino served on a terrace on a hot summer day, a rosé beachside or a good red wine with a good Niçois meal.

Do not forget to drink alcohol in moderation and take some bottles of the wines you tasted in the wineries of Nice in your home.

The area is steeped in the ageless history and the vistas and wines that belong to this compelling land will not fail to enthral you. Travel to the vineyards of Nice, France and get an experience of a lifetime that will lead to an understanding of the effort that goes into making wines.