Focus on Provence

Here are two anecdotes about the Provençal vineyards you might not know.

1) A Vineyard 26 Centuries Old

It’s impossible to talk about Provence without mentioning rosé wine. Although red and white wines are also produced here, rosé makes up 88.5% of Provençal wine production. Often considered the newcomer in the wine family, rosé is actually quite ancient. The first Provençal vineyard appeared 26 centuries ago. At that time, the Greeks invaded southeastern France and founded the city of Marseille. They brought with them plants that were previously unseen in France: grapevines. Shortly thereafter, the first wines emerged. These wines had a light color, resembling the ancestor of today’s rosé. Thus, Provençal rosé is the first known wine in history!

2) An American Film Pays Tribute to Provençal Wines

In 2005, Hollywood set its sights on the Luberon region of Provence. American director Ridley Scott chose this picturesque area to film the adaptation of "A Good Year," a novel written by his longtime friend Peter Mayle. The story follows Max, an ambitious man who inherits his uncle’s vineyard in Provence. Initially eager to sell the estate, Max gradually acclimates to the Provençal way of life and ultimately decides to save the vineyard. The film, featuring Marion Cotillard, Bruno Solo, and Russell Crowe, is a comedy that indulges in clichés to make us smile and sometimes laugh. More importantly, it’s a heartfelt tribute to Provence and its vineyards.

The idea for the screenplay came about in 2003 when Ridley Scott and Peter Mayle were sharing some good bottles of wine. The filmmaker showed his novelist friend a 1996 newspaper article. "I had spotted this article in the business section of The Times. It was about a French vineyard selling garage wines for over 45,000 euros a case. At the time, I was looking for an opportunity to film in France again, and this story seemed perfect. I mentioned the idea to Peter, and he said, ‘That would make a good novel.’ So I told him, ‘You write the book, and I’ll buy the rights to make it into a film,’" recounts Ridley Scott. Definitely worth watching !