Escapade in the Land of Vines
Wine growing is the most important agricultural activity in the Var with 30,137 hectares of vineyards of which 22,668 hectares are AOC (75%).
The Var is the 6th largest producer of wine in France and the world’s largest producer of rosé wine.
The exceptional sunshine, the hot and dry climate and the Mistral wind make the Var vineyards quality vineyards.
Playing with these assets, the wine growers of the Var combine their know-how with advanced techniques to produce quality wines. The land of the Var produces wines that reflect its image: generous, bright, elegant and powerful. The wines of the Var reflect the art of living of this sunny department. If the Rosé is inimitable, the red wines are very good wines to keep while the whites combine roundness and aromas.
We propose a walk through the 4 communes of Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Puget sur Argens, and Roquebrune sur Argens, where the passion for the vine and the land has been shared by the family for several generations: No less than 6 Domaines in the heart of the region.
In Saint-Raphaël : The Domaine Terres Destel
The first and only domain in the city of Saint Raphael, hides an exceptional wine domain in the middle of the Esterel the “Domaine Terres Destel”. This atypical situation on the slopes of a volcanic rock massif, offers the vineyard the sun rays of Provence, and the marine winds of the Mediterranean.
A terroir with a strong typicity, the vines draw from this soil combining mineral and vegetal, the quintessence of a land several hundred thousand years old.
The most aromatic grape varieties of the Côtes de Provence give sensuality to the wines. The rosés are made from Grenache for finesse and intensity, Cinsault for the lightness of its aromas and Syrah which brings fabulous notes of red fruits.
Discover the Domaine Terres Destel : www.terresdestel.com
Fréjus : Domaine Château Paquettes
Nestled in its pine forest, Château Paquettes is located halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Esterel massif. From this unique situation, between sea spray and volcanic rocks, was born an Appellation, Signature of the typicity of our wines, the “Côtes de Provence Fréjus”.
The poor sosl, are composed of volcanic rocks of the Permian Rhyolites and Dolerites, as well as their decomposition in sandstone and clay, are at the orogone of concentrated wines, strong in personality.
The proximity of the sea, the average openness to the Mistral wind, the protection of the mountainous massifs and the importance of the forest environment determine a climate without excess of temperature, well ventilated and rather fresh, favourable to a good development of the vine in our sometimes excessive Mediterranean region. At Château Paquettes, the experience of the Fréjus winegrowers has led them to choose typically Provencal grape varieties such as Tibouren, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah for reds or Rolle for whites. They raise on this soil tender and delicate wines.
Thanks to this passion and this requirement of quality, the wines became one of the jewels of the appellation Côtes de Provences Fréjus, quoted as example by many critics.
Discover the Domaine Château Paquettes : www.chateaupaquette.fr
Fréjus : Domaine Le Jas des Oliviers
Located in the heart of the city of Fréjus, the Jas des Oliviers is like many Domains, a family passion from the planting of a vineyard to the bottling of wines, for 4 generations.
Within this family business, a wine and agricultural activity is perpetuated with traditional methods.
All the work of the exploitation is shared between the members of the family, since five people on three generations intervene according to their knowledge and their capacities.
The vineyard is very fragmented and is made up of 4 parcels: des Étangs, Roquebrune, Sainte-Brigitte and Valescure, where the different grape varieties find their place according to the characteristics of the terroirs.
The name “JAS” means sheepfold: before, an old sheepfold was located on the site of the estate and the sheep used to graze in the surrounding meadows.
The clay-limestone soils and the presence of a deep spring allow a controlled feeding of the vine, guaranteeing the production of great wines.
The management of the vineyard in reasoned culture requires a harvest spread out from the beginning of September to mid-October: One collects only the berries with complete maturity.
All these measures contribute to guarantee quality, finesse and elegance at Domaine Le Jas des Oliviers.
Discover the Domaine Le Jas des Oliviers : www.jas-des-oliviers.com
Fréjus : Domaine Le Clos des Roses
Family domain, the Clos des Roses is located on the terroir of Fréjus, which is one of the only ones in France exploited on lands of volcanic origin. The red roiche, characteristic of the Esterel, contributes to the richness of a small vineyard whose 10 hectares of vines are treated unioquially with natural products used in agro-ecology. Entirely rehabilitated in 2006, from the vines to the cellar, the estate produces mainly rosé wines, but also white and red wines, and appellation Côtes de Provence (AOC) and Vin de Pays des Maures (IGP).
The palette of Clos des Roses, composed of nine different grape varieties, offers luminous rosé and white wines, with floral and fruit aromas, whose freshness is so characteristic of the Provencal soil. As for the reds, the silkiness and balance is associated with an aromatic complexity giving birth to quality vintages.
Le Clos des Roses is distinguished by an optimal association between modern technologies and the use of natural agriculture.
Discover the Domaine Le Clos des Roses : www.closdesroses.com
Roquebrune sur Argens : Domaine Château Vaudois
Located on the hills of the Maures between Saint Raphael and Saint Tropez, Château Vaudois enjoys an exceptional site.
Its south-east exposure provides constant sunshine. The schistose soil is permanently humid and the mistral and the east wind sweep through the land. This preserves the vineyard from diseases and considerably reduces the use of pesticides.
The choice of grape varieties Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Merlot, Viognier, Rolle and Tibouren, was made taking into account all these elements to create atypical wines of Provence.
The history of Château Vaudois, the passion of the soil which is lived in family,
Château Vaudois is the path to follow to satisfy the desire to share a remarkable and unique moment of art de vivre.
Discover the Château Vaudois Estate: www.chateau-vaudois.com
Puget sur Argens : Domaine des Escaravatiers
The Domaine des Escaravatiers is a 35 hectare vineyard located in Puget sur Argens in the Var. The estate has been family owned since 1927 and was renovated in 2009 with modern and grape-friendly facilities. The wine production on the Domaine des Escaravatiers is limited with a small yield of an average of 35 hectoliters per hectare.
The vineyard of Les Escaravatiers is located on a clay-limestone soil which brings a minerality and a lightness to the wine. All the finesse of our wines comes from the particular soil on which the vines are planted. The sun of Provence and the sea air favors the blooming of the grapes and allows to limit the interventions. Our terroir is located in the heart of the Fréjus area which is recognized for its exceptional qualities.
Discover the Domaine des Escaravatiers : www.escaravatiers.com