Fruity, Full-Bodied, Great to Lay Down: the Wines of Northern Provence

The wines of northern Provence are very different customers from their cousins on the coast. Mainly rosés, the southern provençal wines are crisp, dry, light and fruity. The northerners, by contrast, tend to be rich, spicy, full-bodied, dark reds that can be very high in alcohol - as high as 15% - from those long, arid summers baking in the fierce sun. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise: even the names are irresistibly evocative. This is a guide to the luscious, spicy wines of Northern Provence. Click here to read more.