📜 Bandol

Bandol is a protected designation of origin (PDO) for still red, rosé and white wines from eight communes of the Var department in Provence, France: Bandol, Le Beausset, La Cadière-d’Azur, Le Castellet, Evenos, Ollioules, Sanary-sur-Mer and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer. According to the single document, it has been recognised as a controlled designation of origin since 11 November 1941.

All stages, from harvest to winemaking, conditioning and maturing, take place in this area. Grapes are picked by hand and bunches reach the winery intact. Enrichment is prohibited and the maximum yield is 40 hectolitres per hectare.

Red wines need at least 12 % natural alcohol by volume, rosé and white wines 11.5 %. Red Bandol comes from vines over seven years old and spends 18 months in wooden barrels, usually foudres. Mourvèdre must be at least 50 % of the red blend and at least 20 % of a rosé. White wines are mainly Clairette, at least 50 %. The list of permitted varieties has 21 entries, including Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, Counoise, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino and Marsanne.

The minimum planting density is 4 440 vines per hectare, with spur pruning of up to eight buds per vine before 1 May. Many vines stand on terraces held by dry-stone walls called restanques. Irrigation is allowed only in persistent drought.

The specification describes a natural amphitheatre open to the sea through the Gulf of Bandol and sheltered from the Mistral, with about 3 000 hours of sunshine and 650 mm of rain a year. In 2009 the vineyards covered 1 580 hectares, shared by three cooperative cellars and 54 estates.