PDO olive-growing area
Nyons
In the north of Provence, discover Nyons and the Provençal Baronnies, an exceptional region and the cradle of the olive tree. A black, wrinkled gem, the Tanche – also known as the Nyons olive – is unique in the world. It is equally suited to the production of olive oil and to confectionery, yielding products with subtle flavours. Olive oil, black olives, tapenade, Affinade: the PDO from Nyons – a real treat for food lovers!
© France Olive
The geographical area of Nyons PDO lies to the north of Mont Ventoux and to the east of the Rhône Valley, in a region known as the ‘dry Pre-Alps’. To the south, the foothills backing onto the Alps, which rise to between 1,000 and 1,300 metres in altitude, form a natural barrier against the mistral, the valley’s prevailing wind.
The heart of the production area is centred on seven communes, which together account for 60 per cent of the orchards: Nyons, Buis-les-Baronnies, Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, La Roche-sur-le-Buis, Venterol, Vinsobres and Piégon.
In the PDO Nyons area, sunshine levels are exceptional: over 2,700 hours a year! The brightness of the sky, the very dry air, sunshine levels comparable to those in Nice, and the absence of the mistral and fog all combine to create ideal climatic conditions for the Nyons olive!
