A robust, characterful wine of southern France is celebrated at its source in the beautiful town of Bandol.

(TRAVPR.COM) UK - November 2nd, 2011 - Red wine from the full-bodied Mourvèdre grape isn’t only enjoyed where it originates on the Cote d’Azur. But on December 4th, connoisseurs from far and wide will converge on the little port of Bandol between Marseilles and Toulon, to celebrate the latest vintage.

Grapes grown on the Mediterranean coast benefit from strong sunlight, proximity to the sea and the dramatic, verdant landscape. The harvest is late in the year, but the wine is well worth waiting for.

Mourvèdre was once a very dominant grape variety. Now most often blended with Grenache for softness, and being less bland than popular default table wines, Mourvèdre remains very highly regarded, particularly when grown locally.

The young wine is rich with dark fruit flavours, intense and leathery and with a singular mineral characteristic, associated with rocky terrain. A really good year will age to give the fullest, spicy fruit flavours, powerful tannins and a rare, woody truffle note.

All these characteristics are explained in full at the Fête du Millésime, which also brings excellent whites and rosé and local cuisine chosen to complement the wines, in marquees set up by the quayside. Visitors may taste different vintages and are encouraged to make much of the occasion.

Bandol is an elegant, sophisticated little portside town that really welcomes the international following of its product. Groups of visitors – as varied as Latin Americans, Indonesians and Scots – perform light-hearted musical routines that illustrate this wine’s far-reaching appeal.

More information about Bandol and the wine festival can be found at http://www.bandol.fr/.

Quality Villas can provide high quality South of France villas for anyone wanting to enjoy this marvellous taste-experience.

About Quality Villas
Quality Villas is a family run UK based villa rental specialist that is proud of their helpful, knowledgeable team and their personal service that larger companies cannot match.

All the rental properties in their portfolio are personally chosen and inspected, and all come with a private pool (unless on the beach) and a team of staff to make the client’s stay relaxing and hassle free. The reservations team personally knows each property and its location and are therefore able to advise in detail about any villa and the nearby towns and villages.

Quality Villas have been operating since 1986 and offer luxury holiday rentals in France, Italy and Morocco.

###