By Jill Barth: As France’s oldest wine region, Provence is infinitely important to the global history of viticulture. The region was settled by the Phocaeans around 600 BC, and it’s believed that the Greeks were responsible for the dawn of winemaking and grape growing in ancient Provence. These early wines …

By Jill Barth Biodynamic Wine I take notes like a squirrel on the bird feeder—fast and full, getting it all down before someone changes the subject. You’ll know me by my notebooks. More often than not, however, the stuff that really sticks with me doesn’t require a scribble. My memory …

By Jill Barth: France’s Rhône River runs north to south, beginning in the Swiss Alps and eventually finding its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Populating its banks are world-renowned vineyards, divided into Northern and Southern designations, the latter of which includes the Lirac Cru. In a valley where wines are classified by …

I don’t think there is a topic I’ve covered more than rosé. Part preference, part probability, it seems only natural that a Provence wine specialist would document the past, present and future of vin trois, the third colour of the wine trinity. Affiliations range from the “Hampton’s Water” lifestyle crowd to …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: Provençal rosé—and rosé in general—has been riding a popularity wave in recent years. While there are instances of trendy lifestyle marketing involved, many rosés are wines of quality, made by winemakers of skill and terroir of distinction. Behind them lies a secret weapon, hidden in an unassuming coral-colored building with green shutters: The …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: Driving the D99 into Saint-Rémy-de-Provence may be one of life’s most charming travel pleasures. The roadway is lined with iconic, cicada-filled Plane trees and in the distractingly near distance are the limestone-rich Alpilles, a preserved and biodiverse mountain range where civilization has persisted for 4,000 years. …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: The cork wine stopper is synonymous with preservation – not only of the wine in the bottle but of a way of life for cork farmers and the natural ecosystem of the forest. The process has been the same for generations because the system is a sustainable …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: In early 2016, M. Chapoutier purchased Château des Ferrages, located in Provence between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin near the commune of Pourcieux. Ferrages produces Côtes-de-Provence AOP and Côtes-de-Provence Saint-Victoire AOP wines, including a portfolio of red, white, and rosé wines. …Continue reading here to learn about …

Contributor blog post by Jill Barth: Women are under-represented in the wine industry – collaboration groups offer remedies. There is a movement in the French wine industry, one in which winemakers and associated pros are considered keepers of the culture. Women across the country – from Champagne to Provence and Bordeaux …

As I mentioned in my earlier post this week: I remember the first time I sipped a Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, a vin doux naturel (VDN, naturally sweet wine) from France’s Southern Rhône Valley. It was with Patrick Soard and his daughter Justine, of Domaine de Fenouillet, on their property – neighbours with …