Utter the word Provence and any sensualist will instantly sigh. This is France’s dreamy playground, the land of endless azure skies and pristine beaches. Who doesn’t want a year in Provence, if not 10? Yet while the region is renowned for its earthly delights, one element has been surprisingly missing—a surfeit of splendid wine. Such a travesty was not meant to be forever, and now France’s southernmost region is finding its voice with bold wines that speak to Provence’s rich and varied terroir. This geological pastiche of sun-roasted limestone crags and rolling foothills is caressed by maritime winds and cooled by the northern mistral. There is nothing shy about wines from Provence; its reds are bold and ruddy, as witnessed from the muscular yet elegant (not to mention long-lived) Mourvèdre from Bandol. Other Rhône varietals, such as Grenache, Syrah and especially old-vine Carignan, are some of the best sunbathers in France and show splendidly on these sun-drenched slopes. Thirsty travelers will also find other familiar grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, as part of exciting wines from the region’s up-and-coming artisans. Organic agriculture too is the norm, rather than the exception, in Provence—a perfect dry climate makes it easy to let nature do the talking.