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Walls: Chasing freshness in Ventoux

Altitude is a well-known element in preserving acidity in wine and with close to 2,000 metres at its disposal, Mount Ventoux in the warm Southern Rhône has plenty to spare.

In a warming climate, there is one characteristic in wine that is increasingly coveted: freshness. This is why Ventoux, once a marginal climate for quality wines, finds itself in an increasingly strong position.

Although most of the appellation’s vineyards are at the foot of the mountain, vines are climbing ever upwards, and have now reached 550m above sea level. With Mont Ventoux’s summit at 1,912m, they’ve got plenty of room to grow.

I tasted 56 wines in ascending elevation to see when the freshness of altitude becomes discernible. I was expecting a clear correlation between height and freshness; the reality, however, is more complex.


Scroll down to see notes and scores for top picks from Ventoux



Fresh Ventoux wines


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