The breathtaking Dentelles de Montmirail mountain range defines the Beaumes de Venise winemaking region, with beautiful terraced vineyards clinging to its rugged slopes, spreading down to the four picturesque villages of Lafare, La Roque-Alric, Suzette and Beaumes itself. Around a hundred innovative and dynamic independent vignerons work the rich and varied geological soils brought up towards the surface when the Dentelles rose from the earth, that bring so much of the character to the wines produced here, alongside hundreds of smallholders who still follow the age-old tradition of selling the grapes of their tiny plots to the local Cave Cooperative.
While the Dentelles provide shelter from the Mistral winds, the vineyards coexist with a vibrant, protected biodiversity of olive trees, fruit orchards, woods and forests that harbour flora, fauna and insects, all crucial for sustainable and organic cultivation.
And the Beaumes wines are just as impressive as these idyllic landscapes. Vines were first planted here by Greek colonisers around BC, and the luscious, naturally sweet Muscat de Beaumes de Venise has a history of world-renown going back centuries.
And in the future, there will surely be a Beaumes de Venise white, as a combination of the terroir and modern cellar techniques produce surprising results both for an aromatic dry Muscat and explosive blends of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussane. All of this is detailed on the AOC Beaumes de Venise website, and below are ten top tips for a wine lover road trip.
The vineyard was everything I wanted; metres altitude for freshness, certified organic, a must for me, hot days and cool nights because of the nearby Mont Ventoux, so perfect acidity.
