DOMAINE DU PATERNEL / CASSIS / FRANCE
Close to 90 percent of all wine from the Provence region is rosé, but there are still some parts – such as Cassis – where the rosé is rivaled by other wines (at least in some of the 215 hectares that comprise this appellation).
In 1936, when France’s appellation system was created, Cassis was one of the first to be recognized, as this is home to some of the finest white wines in Provence.
Of all AOP Cassis wines, white wines today make up 67 percent, rosé accounts for 30 percent with red wines at three percent.
The ancient Greeks of the city of Phocaea were the first to plant vine stocks in the bay of Cassis (probably an Ugni blanc).
When the Greeks had been defeated, the conquering Romans continued planting vines in the region.
Already from the beginning, the wine farmers of Cassis specialized in white wines.
At first, it was generally sweet Muscat wine, but in the late 19th century, due to the devastating phylloxera infestation, they (as many others across France) had to plant new vines from grafted American rootstock, gradually shifting to dry white wine.
The Cassis vineyards are the only vineyards in France to be completely encompassed by a national park.
The Santini siblings – Olivier, Jean-Christophe and Laetitia – are the third-generation vignerons to oversee the family’s Domaine du Paternel, based only a few minutes outside of the town of Cassis.
Because of this location so close to the bay, it is open to the sea, which regulates the temperature. The vineyard is about 50 hectares and produces 300,000 bottles annually.
Since 2012, all wines are certified organic.
They also collaborate closely with Bernard and Monique Piche who produce (white and red) organic wines, under the label Domaine de la Couronne de Charlemagne.
Domaine du Paternel
Blanc de Blancs AOP
A blend of Marsanne, Clairette, Ugni blanc and Bourboulenc, decidedly marked by the closeness to the sea, with its trademark minerality together with a tone of lemon.
Domaine du Paternel
Rosé AOP Côte-de-Provence
A crisp, light and elegant rosé, the grapes are harvested manually and come from the Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer vines, certified organic since 2019. The main varietal is Grenache grapes, combined here with Cinsault, grown on large expanses of clay-limestone soil.
Domaine du Paternel
Rouge Grande Réserve AOP Bagnol
A blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Syrah, this red wine has a complex structure with berry aromas. The vines are cultivated in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and Le Castellet, which are mainly hillside plots.