AOC Côtes de Provence La Londe: an exceptional terroir on the Mediterranean coast
A certified organic vineyard between sea, schist and mistral
Château Maravenne, located in La Londe-les-Maures, between Hyères and Bormes-les-Mimosas, is one of the few estates to benefit from the prestigious "Côtes de Provence La Londe" terroir appellation. On its 80 hectares, including 30 of certified organic vines, the estate produces fine wines, notably elegant rosés, from a unique coastal terroir.
An exceptional geographical setting, facing the Golden Isles
The AOC La Londe area covers 4 communes in the Var region:
- La Londe-les-Maures (in its entirety)
- Part of Bormes-les-Mimosas, Hyères and La Crau
The vineyard is nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Maures massif, facing the famous golden islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant. The climate is dry and sunny, with a regulating mistral wind and permanent sea breezes, favoring slow, natural grape ripening.
Grape varieties and constraints of the appellation
For AOC La Londe rosés, the main authorized grape varieties are Grenache and Cinsault. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tibouren, Carignan and a few white varieties are also used.
Yields are limited to 50 hl/ha, guaranteeing concentrated, expressive wines.
The terroir of La Londe: a thousand years of geological history
The terroir of La Londe has evolved over geological eras, shaped by Alpine uplift and marine erosion. The crystalline Maures massif, composed of micaschists, gneiss and granite, gives rise to poor, schistose brown soils that are ideal for vines. These draining soils give the wines a pure, mineral expression.
Château Maravenne's vines face due south to the sea, between the schist slopes of the Massif des Maures and the gentle coastline. This remarkable location accentuates the unique character of the estate's wines.
AOC Côtes de Provence and its terroir appellations
Provence wine-growing is divided into several major AOCs:
- Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
- Coteaux Varois en Provence
- Côtes de Provence (the largest)
Within the Côtes de Provence AOC, 5 terroir denominations have been created to highlight local geological and climatic specificities:
- Sainte-Victoire
- Fréjus
- Pierrefeu
- Notre-Dame des Anges
- La Londe (Château Maravenne)
A precious historical heritage
Introduced to Marseille by the Greeks as early as 600 B.C., vines took root in Provence. The Romans, then the Benedictine monks, structured the vineyards and passed on their know-how.
It was in the 20th century that the winegrowers of Provence joined forces to obtain theAOC Côtes de Provence (1977). Between 2005 and 2019, the terroir appellations to which La Londe belongs were officially recognized.
A Terroir of Identity, a Vineyard of Exigence
AOC Côtes de Provence La Londe embodies the excellence of a rare coastal terroir, where vines flourish between ancient schists and marine influences. Château Maravenne, anchored in the heart of this appellation, reveals its uniqueness through precise, elegant, certified organic wines. Each cuvée expresses the richness of the soil, respect for the living world and the constant commitment of an estate focused on authenticity and quality.
