Marie-Bérénice, organic Bandol wines

Bandol: between land and sea

Covering an area of 1,560 hectares, the appellation’s terroir is concentrated across eight communes in the Var:
Bandol, Le Beausset, Le Castellet, La Cadière d’Azur, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Sainte-Anne-d’Evenos, Sanary-sur-Mer and Ollioules. Sheltered by the Sainte Baume massif to the north, which rises to 1,147 metres, the Bandol vineyards descend in terraces towards the sea, forming a magnificent amphitheatre of wooded hills.

A MULTIFACETED
GEOLOGY Marls and limestones form the bulk of these arid soils, whose boundaries are defined with extreme precision by the appellation regulations. The fertile soil has washed down into the plain, leaving the hillsides to the vines, which thrive in the precious aridity of the poor soils, as befits the grands crus. In Bandol, it is well known that soils with limited yields prevent the dilution of aromas and allow the wine to reveal the full richness of its flavours.

A UNIQUE CLIMATE AND SUN
EXPOSURE Facing south, overlooking the sea, the vineyard enjoys nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. At its feet, the Mediterranean protects it from extreme temperature fluctuations, whilst higher up, the hills, with their pine and oak forests, act as a barrier against the cold winds from the north. Sheltered by this natural amphitheatre dotted with olive and almond trees, the vineyard enjoys a microclimate where sea and land breezes provide the perfect balance of ventilation and rainfall. As for the Mistral, it helps maintain a perfectly healthy climate, even after heavy rainfall.

Sources (Hachette – Bandol Wines)

Bandol wines at a glance

From the Sainte-Baume massif to the shores of the Mediterranean, the Bandol vineyards stretch across a 1,600-hectare amphitheatre where vines are everywhere, mostly planted on terraces (restanques).

Vineyard area: 1,600 hectares.

An appellation covering eight communes in the Var: Bandol, Le Beausset, Le Castellet, La Cadière d’Azur, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Sainte-Anne-d’Evenos, Sanary-sur-Mer and Ollioules.

Three types of wine: rosé wines (74%), red wines (20%), white wines (6%)

The Bandol terroir: mainly marl and limestone. Fairly poor, stony soils.

A warm climate: Facing south, overlooking the sea, the Bandol vineyards enjoy nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

Mourvèdre, the king of grape varieties: The Mourvèdre grape variety is closely associated with the Bandol appellation, where it makes up the majority of the blend. However, there are a dozen other grape varieties, such as Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Clairette, Rolle, etc.

Main areas: Pradeaux, Pibarnon, Tempier, Terre Brune, Tour du Bon, Bastide Blanche, Bégude, Gros Noré, Suffrène, Lafran-Veyrolles, Marie Bérénice

Source (For further information): Maison des Vins de Bandol in Le Castellet – Bandol wines

A few photos of the Marie-Bérénice estate in Bandol