“La Londe has always had a great agricultural tradition”
The first Fête des Vendanges was a great success.
On September 22, more than 2,500 people followed the tractor parade in the town center and gathered in the afternoon on Place Camoin around local producers. Needless to say, François de Canson had a broad smile during the official sequence: “La Londe has always had a great agricultural tradition. For us, our roots are deeply anchored in this land of Provence.
La Londe represents 1,100 hectares of vineyards, making it the 4th wine-growing commune of the Var, 23 private cellars, which makes it the Côtes de Provence commune with the most cellars, and a cooperative cellar of 40 growers. In addition, production is 85% rosé, 7% red, and 8% white. Production is equivalent to 8 million bottles, and the wine is exported to all 5 continents.
In the commune, this activity directly supports more than 100 households and more than 500 indirectly. Moreover, the wines are recognized in major national (Paris, Mâcon) and international (Bruxelles) competitions.” (Bandol, Cassis, Côtes de Provence).
“Here, wine tourism is one of the assets. It is an activity marked by exceptional dynamism that has developed over the years thanks to the players in the sector. Therefore, the CRT supports professionals in this sector and develops branches including wine tourism to maintain activity throughout the season.
Indeed, ecotourism, expertise tourism, remembrance tourism, spiritual tourism, modern and contemporary art, water sports, cycle tourism, and agritourism—all of these branches help develop year-round tourism outside the high season,” notes the vice-president of the Région and president of the Comité Régional de Tourisme (CRT). It is not without reason that Provence is the leading rosé-producing territory in France, with 42% of national production.
With 20% of its vineyards in organic farming—compared to an average of 10% for the rest of the country—Provence, aware of environmental issues, is one of the most advanced territories in this area.
Photos by Alain BLANCHOT and Isabelle BENOIT.