Montmirail lace
The Lace of Montmirail, located in the French department of Vaucluse, are a mountain range that marks the western limit of the Vaucluse mountains. They owe their name, "lace," to the fact that they are finely sculpted by erosion. The highest point of this eight-kilometer-long chain is the Armand ridge, which reaches an altitude of 730 meters. It is a very popular spot for climbing enthusiasts.
Geographical location
They are located north of Carpentras, south of Vaison-la-Romaine, and west of Mont Ventoux in Provence.
The Dentelles de Montmirail, visible within a group of hills known as the Massif de Suzette, named after a locality, are actually made up of three parallel chains (vertical limestone formations) oriented generally west-east. :
Among the points of interest spread across the three Dentelles mountain ranges, we can mention the Rocher du Midi, Rocher du Turc, the Clapis, the Col du Cayron or the Tour Sarrasine.
The Lace of Montmirail extend across 13 communes :
The massif, in the shape of a triangle, is delimited to the northeast by the Saint-Amand ridge, which is its highest point at 722 meters altitude, to the northwest by the Ouvèze plain, to the south by that of the Comtat Venaissin and, to the east, by the defile which leads from Barroux to Malaucène, a fault which marks its separation from the foothills of Mont Ventoux.
Fauna and Flora
The vegetation there is Mediterranean (aromatic plants, holm oaks, Aleppo pines...)
Some protected orchid species can also be observed in the vicinity of the plots, including the Goat Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum) and the False Woodcock Orchid (Ophrys pseudscolopax).
The fauna found in and around the vineyards consists mainly of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Most of them are common and are associated with the agricultural environment (Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), European hare (Lepus europaeus), European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), Red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa), Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), Knapweed fritillary (Melitaea phoebe), etc.).
However, some more "remarkable" species can be observed there. These include birds such as the Western Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica), the Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) or the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), an emblematic bird of prey that is critically endangered in the PACA region.
The great wines of the region
This mountain range is part of the Baronnies massif, and it represents the first extension of the Alps into the Rhône Valley. At the foot of this rocky ridge, vineyards are cultivated; the first vines were planted by the Romans and produce some of the great wines of the Côtes du Rhône.:
BEAUMES DE VENISE
The vineyards of the Beaumes de Venise AOC flourish in the heart of the Comtat Venaissin region of Provence, at the foot of the Lace of Montmirail mountains, in the southern Côtes du Rhône. Beaumes de Venise red wines are elegant, fruity, and luscious. Muscat wines from Beaumes de Venise are highly aromatic, with floral, citrus, and exotic fruit notes bursting forth.
VACQUEYRAS
Vacqueyras is a Provençal village full of character. Vacqueyras wine comes from an exceptional terroir located at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. Protected by the Dentelles de Montmirail, which overlook the village, the Vacqueyras vineyard benefits from a diversity of soils and terroirs.
Drawing its strength from this terroir, the Vacqueyras cru surprises with the balance of its wines, whether white, rosé, or red. A balance of character and finesse.
GIGONDAS
The Gigondas terroir forms a unique geological unit. The vineyard is nestled within the Lace of Montmirail, striking limestone peaks reaching 732 meters. Gigondas combines restrained power, elegance, finesse, and freshness. The limestone of the Lace of Montmirail imparts a distinctive minerality to this very specific cru of the Southern Rhône Valley.
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