All roads lead to Burgundy, goes the wine world’s famous saying, but at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, all roads lead to Provence might be a more accurate slogan. There is perhaps no region more closely aligned with the history of KLWM than Provence. It is where Richard Olney, the late American ex-pat and esteemed author, lived and introduced Kermit to the region’s great wines, notably Domaine Tempier. The love affair has been strong ever since: Kermit now spends several months per year at his home just outside of Bandol, and we are proud to represent seven exceptional domaines from this marvelous land.
             Provence represents the birthplace of French wine. An important hub of viticulture since Greek settlers docked at the port of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) in 600 BC, this is France’s most historic wine region. Today, Provence enjoys a tremendous diversity of winemaking styles across several distinctive sub-regions. At their best, these wines are deeply grounded in tradition, highly evocative of place, and most important, irresistibly delicious.
            Blessed with one of France’s warmest and sunniest climates, this is a Mediterranean paradise ideally suited to the grapevine. It gets windy: the notorious mistral blows year-round, keeping grapes dry and healthy while concentrating the earthy flavors of the land. Spicy fragrances of garrigue—wild thyme, rosemary, and other aromatic herbs—are pervasive in nearly all Provençal wines, as such shrubbery thrives in the dry heat and poor, rugged limestone terroir. Nonetheless, the diversity of terrain and microclimates—from the coast to Alpine foothills—ensures local wines are anything but homogenous.
            Rosé is certainly Provence’s most famous wine, and today nearly 85% of all Provençal wine is pink. Drinking great rosé is a year-round passion at KLWM, so we go to great lengths to import hand-crafted cuvées rooted in distinguished terroir. But it must be remembered that red wines are historically Provence’s calling card. Mourvèdre reigns, supported by a faithful cast that includes Grenache and Cinsault. Finally, the region’s rare whites, produced from the likes of Clairette, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, and Rolle, can be truly stunning and are well worth seeking out.
           Four of our seven Provençal domaines are in Bandol, the region’s star appellation, but you’ll also discover brilliant bottlings from Cassis, Les Baux, and a remote corner of the vast Côtes-de-Provence AOC. What do Provençal wines taste like? In all three colors, you can expect sun-kissed fruit, suggestions of wild herbs, and a salivating minerality derived from stony soils or the salty influence of the Mediterranean. Most of all, they are wines of generosity, soul, and rich character, intimately tied to the land that spawned them. Check out our selections below, available now at a discount, to see why all roads do in fact lead to Provence.