The Cotignac region is rich with local products including wine, olives, saffron, truffles, and honey. More than a way of living, it is a vocation, and a cultural tradition. It is therefore with pride that local producers welcome you to their estates, and hope to share their history, expertise and products.
The fertile soil and abundant sunshine of the Haut Var have proven favourable to organic farming. Sheltered from difficult weather and the mistral wind by Mont Bessillon and the surrounding hills, the region’s grapevines extend over 330 hectares which are divided into AOC Côtes de Provence and Vins de Pays du Var appellations.
At the start of the last century, olives were the dominant product within these agricultural lands, until the infamous freezing winter of 1956, which killed most of the olive trees in the region. Since then the olive-growing culture has improved dramatically, and the region now produces quality oil from local olive groves. Around these groves we now traditionally see wild crops growing, such as saffron, thyme, rosemary, lavender and other flowers.
In this natural environment, bees gathered, which encouraged many local beekeeping families to set themselves up, and have now been producing tasty honeys for generations. Much of the Haut Var’s agricultural land is cultivated biodynamically, and this is certainly observed by the local producers of fresh fruit, vegetables, and truffles.
Here is a selection of our local producers:
Château de Taurenne
Château Carpe Diem
Château La Calisse
Château Margüi
Château Thuerry
Graine de Jardin
Chemin de Cougournier, 83570 Carcès
