Wine making has been part of the local culture for thousands of years and, apart from the coastal views, the hillside vineyards of Cassis make up a good portion of the landscape. The wines of Cassis were among the first in France to receive the AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) designation and the city is known primarily for crisp white wines, which go well with the local seafood. Wine-tastings, offered by the various vineyards, are a great way to spend a few hours and sample a number of these distinctive wines.
One of the vineyards we visited is Domaine du Paternel. This third generation family operation produces a nice selection of wines, including rosé and red, that are certified organic ‘from the vine to the wine’.
We arrived for a tasting and were able to sample a selection of whites that we found to be light, crisp, and refreshing. Not too sweet. Not too dry.
We also had the opportunity to tour the inner workings of the winery where we learned a little about their process.
At the loading dock, we saw where the grapes are ‘refreshed’ before being conveyed up to the pressing room.
From there they are pressed, filtered, and sent to the appropriate fermenting tank.
We were able to see the various tanks, including the sleek modern stainless steel tanks
and the older tanks set into walls of glossy black Aubagne tile.
Fortunately for us, at the time of our visit, we were able to watch the bottling process. Since most medium and small vineyards don’t own their own bottling equipment, this process is done on-site over a span of a few days by contractors using mobile equipment.
In addition to the cellars, vineyards, and tasting room, the property includes a cottage, set back from the main building, available for meetings and seminars.
Domaine du Paternel offers wine-tastings several days per week. Be sure to check their website for information on dates and times, or contact them directly for arrangements.
Getting there:
Domaine du Paternel is located at 11 route Pierre Imbert.
Summary
Reviewer
Mike Young
Review Date
Reviewed Item
Wine-tasting at Domaine du Paternel
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By Things to do in Cassis, Wine-tasting at Domaine... 7 Dec ’15 at 5:14 pm
By Things to do in Cassis, Wine-tasting at Domaine... 12 Dec ’15 at 4:45 pm