Located along the rugged southern coast of France, the Côte Vermeille, Vin de Pays, amazes wine connoisseurs worldwide with its unique and exceptional wines. Nestled between the sparkling Mediterranean Sea and the Spanish border, this vineyard-studded region generates an array of robust, deeply flavoured, and intriguing wines.
Deriving its name from its characteristic ‘vermillion coast’, Côte Vermeille blesses wine-lovers with vintages birthed from vineyards graced by ample sunlight and cooled by the balmy sea breezes. Volcanic soils, rich in minerals, contribute to the distinct terroir, giving the wines an unmistakable edge.
Known primarily as a red wine region, the area is famed for producing Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre grapes. These grape types are often blended to yield rich, full-bodied wines with hints of spices, red fruit, and earthy undernotes, encapsulating the breathtaking landscape in an intoxicating drink.
The Côte Vermeille, Vin de Pays, also embraces the white Muscat grape, which ripens to perfection under the hot Mediterranean sun. The resultant Muscat de Rivesaltes is a sweet, aromatic, dessert wine that harmonises scents of fresh fruit, honey, and exotic spices, forming the perfect companion to an array of desserts and pâtisseries.
Vin de Pays, or 'country wine' in French, is a classification denoting quality wines produced in specific regions of France, abiding to more lenient rules than stricter AOC regulations. This means vintners can express creativity, experimenting with non-traditional grape varieties and viticulture techniques, which is vividly noticeable in the diverse, captivating wines spilling from the Côte Vermeille region.
Rightly named the 'Painters' Coast', the Côte Vermeille isn’t only visually stunning but pours forth liquid works of art. Its wines beautifully express the harmony of viticulture with nature, telling multiple tales of the sea, the sun, and the soil in each delightful sip.
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