Beautiful Mimosa at the Vineyard for French Riviera Winter Colours

Provence is known for its exceptional wines and breathtaking landscapes. But did you know our region is also home to a beautiful, fragrant plant? The mimosa, a plant native to Australia, grows on our vineyard and brings a touch of lively colour and subtle fragrance.

The mimosa grows mainly in subtropical and warm zones, but it has managed to adapt to the climatic conditions of our region. Its bright yellow flowers appear in February; you can spot them everywhere! They are the very first sign of spring. Mimosa branches are often used in flower arrangements, and all around the coastline, there are festivals and markets dedicated to this sunny plant. They’re a perfect example of how nature can beautify our environment and add a touch of magic to our daily lives! Original contributor blog post by: Maison Mirabeau Wine.

Mimosa and the French Riviera

Today, the high season on the French Riviera is during the summer months. However, in the 19th century, it was in the cold winter months when wealthy foreigners escaped to the French coast. This stylish group left a permanent impression on the Riviera with landmarks such as the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, art-deco homes and gardens with mimosas. The mimosa, part of the acacia family, is native to Australia, not the South of France. Originally planted in the 1850s in the gardens of the “Riviera Set,” mimosas are celebrated along the coastline in winter.

©Cote d’Azur Tourisme

Route du Mimosa

The official Route du Mimosa runs 130 kilometres from Bormes les Mimosas to the perfume capital of Grasse. From January to March, this flower-centric festival includes parades, workshops and other activities attracting crowds to the coastline during a quieter period of the year. However, catching the blossoms at their peak takes a bit of luck, as Mother Nature determines exactly when the plants will flower.

Mimosa Hillsides

Between Grasse and Cannes is the hilltop village of Tanneron. At the height of the mimosa season, a golden-yellow hue bathes the town. Tanneron is a centre for both cultivated and wild species of mimosa. Just a short walk from the village is a pretty waterfall, the Cascade de la Siagne. The sweeping view from the Church of Notre Dame de Peygros (built in the 1840s) is worth seeing.

Maison Mirabeau Wine

Stephen had been in the corporate world for 15 years and in August 2008 turned down a promotion that would have meant more money but also more stress, longer hours and less time with his young family. For many years the Cronks had been dreaming and talking about moving to France to make their own wine, but the moment never seemed quite right to make the big leap.

Soon after, a good redundancy offer seemed the perfect opportunity to turn the dream into reality and after selling their beloved house, they left the leafy suburbs of south-west London in August 2009. Their worldly possessions were packed up on the back of a truck and with barely a word of French between them, the family headed south to a small village called Cotignac, in the heart of Provence.

The Cronks spent a year getting their bearings, learning to live the provençal way, as Stephen was criss-crossing the country researching and finding the best vineyards to work with. The next step was setting up a small wine business with the principle objective of making a Provence rosé that would be regarded as one of the very best from the region, while building a brand that people would grow to love. In order to achieve this aim, they put together a highly experienced winemaking team and threw their heart and soul into the brand and innovative communications with their customers. Mirabeau is now being sold in more than 30 markets, has won medals and earned acclaim from some of the world’s toughest wine critics, but what really makes Stephen happiest is that their wines are an integral part of people having a great time together.

Read more about the Mirabeau Wine story here.