The Château de Bellet is the historic residence of the Barons of Bellet and has been producing wines for centuries. The Château is located high in the hills north of Nice in a separate appellation known as AOC Bellet. The grounds include a 15th Century castle and a private chapel. Today, the Château is presided over by Ghislain de Charnacé, the grandson of the Baron of Bellet, who has also served as the President of the syndicate of vintners in the area.
Vineyard.
The vineyard is comprised of stone and sand. The vines are trellised and planted in rows of three. The winemaking is traditional. No herbicides or pesticides are used and the grapes are picked by hand.
The Wines and Vinification.
The Château produces white, rosé and red wines. The white is made using mainly Rolle and a small percentage of Chardonnay. The wine is stored in barrels for approximately one year before bottling. The white is a wine that can be drunk now or kept for many years because of the high concentration of Rolle. The rosé is made of 100% Braquet, a local grape variety. The rosé is a gastronomic rosé that can be drunk for at least two years.
Honors.
Château de Bellet wine was served at the Summit of Versailles in 1982 to former President Ronald Reagan and at the European Summit of Nice in 2000.
Representative Restaurants and Hotels in France that Carry the Château de Bellet Wines.
Hôtel de Paris (Monaco) Hôtel Hermitage (Monaco) Hôtel de la Chevre d’Or (Eze) Chantecler – Hotel Negresco (Nice) Hôtel Majestic (Cannes) Hôtel Martinez (Cannes) Hôtel du Cap – Eden Roc (Cap d’Antibes) La Colombe d’Or (Saint Paul de Vence) Abbaye de la Celle - Alain Ducasse (Var) Lei Mouscardins (Saint Tropez) L’Oustau de Baumanière (Les Baux en Provence) Le Mougin de Mougins (Mougins) Vin sur Vins (Paris) Le Bistrot du Sommelier (Paris)
