Côte and Coteaux, we see these words everywhere: Côtes du Rhône, Coteaux du Languedoc, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Beaune, etc. It is an old French tradition to call wine regions located along rivers or slopes like this. Often the prefixes indicate a larger wine area (though not always, Côte Rôtie is a good example).
For several years now the appellation Coteaux d’Aix en Provence has struggled to get rid of their Coteaux. They would prefer to call themselves simply “Aix en Provence”, just like the well-known town close by. They still have not managed to convince the INAO but they will not give up.
And why would it not work? The nearby appellations of Luberon and Ventoux have both managed to get rid of their Côtes. They were previously Côtes du Luberon and Côtes du Ventoux. But not any more. And Coteaux du Languedoc is now Languedoc.
An appellation without a prefix is associated with higher quality, at least by the French consumer.
Read more on reussir-vigne.com
What’s your impression? Does AOP Aix en Provence sound better that AOP Coteaux d’Aix en Provence? Write a comment.
