DrinkWine dominates this section - of course. But let's not forget pastis, the quintessential apéritif of Provence and beer, which isn't associated with the region but has a surprisingly long history here. Stay tuned for more reports on other local drinks, alcoholic and abstemious. Click here to book a hotel in Provence
Marseille is the world capital of pastis - but it's also dominated by multinationals. Cristal Limiñana is the exception: a tiny family business whose recipes have come down through the generations.
Enjoyed on a sun-drenched café terrace by the sea, if possible while watching or playing a game of pétanque, pastis is the essential - indeed stereotypical - apéritif of Provence.
With its mighty, meaty red wines and elegant rosés, Bandol is one of Provence's most prestigious wine regions. This is an introduction to these wines and some of the best places to try and buy them.
If you are planning to stock up on wine while in France, the nationwide Foires aux vins (wine fairs or wine sales) are a major date for your diary. They're held twice a year, in spring and autumn.
Provence is the place to drink vin rosé so think pink and sample our ten fun facts. And if you want to plunge in more deeply (and who wouldn't?), read our introduction to Southern France's favourite wine.
Crisp, floral and flinty, the wines of Cassis are justly famous, though you might know them by reputation only, for the little appellation is often not easy to come by outside the immediate area.
We know a surprising amount today about the drinking habits of the Avignon Popes, who promoted wine-growing in the Rhône area, most famously around Châteauneuf du Pape.
The wines of Northern Provence tend to be rich, spicy, full-bodied, dark reds that can be very high in alcohol - as high as 15% - from the long, arid summers baking in the fierce sun.
Provence got its priorities right good and early. Wine has been made here for at least 2,600 years, making it the oldest wine-producing region of France. |
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