Maures is the IGP title that covers wines produced in the Massif des Maures, a small mountain chain that runs along the Mediterranean coast of France just east of Marseille. Production here is shared partially by the much larger Côtes de Provence AOC appellation, and is dominated by fresh rosé wines that are made from Grenache, Cinsaut, Syrah and Carignan.
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The area covered by the Maures IGP runs between the seaside towns of Hyères and Fréjus, a distance of about 35 miles (55km). The Massif des Maures hills rise to more than 2500ft (760m), and are divided into numerous hillsides and valleys. While viticulture is not a core part of the local economy here (unlike much of Provence), there are prime vineyard sites to be exploited. These are too patchy and disparate, however, to be delimited and mapped under an AOC title, which is where the IGP comes into action.
These coastal hills enjoy a warm, sunny Mediterranean climate with vineyards usually found on sunny, south-facing slopes. Here, they are subject to the influence of the cool Mistral wind that also moderates temperatures in the Rhone Valley wine region. Poor soils comprised largely of sandstone are well suited to viticulture, offering excellent drainage for the vines, concentrating flavors in the grapes.
Like many IGPs, Maures wines may be made in a range of styles from a wide array of grape varieties. In practice, however, rosé wines made predominantly from Grenache account for around 70 percent of production, in keeping with the rest of Provence. Rich, tannic red wines and light, fresh white wines make up a smaller proportion of Maures IGP wine.
Since 2009, the Maures IGP has replaced the Vin de Pays des Maures denomination that previously covered the area’s vineyards. This change has not been limited to this small part of France: the Vin de Pays category has been eliminated in favor of the new Indication Géographique Protégée, bringing French labeling laws in line with those of the European Union.
