Regional products : olive, lavender, aromatic plants, wine...

The lime-tree has long been cultivated in the Baronnies. Since the beginning of the 19th century, it has become more widespread due to the decline in sericulture and the ending of madder-wort cultivation.

The lime-blossom (linden) fairs

The fair season starts on the first Wednesday in July in Buis (the year 2000 saw the 192nd fair so far). From 7 o’clock in the morning, the fair is under way : along the Ouvèze dyke, under majestic plane-trees, it’s a joyful show of colours and scents. The other fairs in the Baronnies take place during the month of July, at La Charce and Villefranche-le-Château.

La confrérie des Chevaliers du Tilleul
(The Brotherhood of the Knights of lime-blossom)
The Brotherhood was created on July 2nd 1986 ; Its Grand Master is Laurent Haro and it exists to conserve and promote the trees and their blossom.
Before becoming Dignitaries or Knights of the Brotherhood, those chosen must drink the « Castillou » and take the Brotherhood’s oath:

UT SEMPER IN BARONNIS TILIA VIVAT
(Long live the Baronnies lime-tree)
Mr. G. JUILLE, April 1991.

Olives and olives-oil

It is said that the sun-loving olive-tree was born at the same time as the Mediterranean. There are proofs of olive-trees being cultivated in Syria, Phoenicia and Palestine around 3000 B.C. 25 centuries ago, the Greeks brought it to Provence. It’s the symbol of peace and fertility. We can read in very old manuscripts about the virtues of the fruit, and of its oil. And still today, new virtues are being discovered.

Two valleys in the Baronnies - the Ouvèze and Aygues valleys - are full of olive-groves. Olives are an important part of the local agricultural economy and the products derived from olives have a very good gastronomical reputation. The local Nyons and Baronnies oil was the first olive-oil to obtain the «A.O.C.» - a French label - for quality produce.

The Olive and Oil in festival: 3rd Sunday of January (To the program: Market of producers, excursion, contest of balls and many animations.)

The produce of the olive-tree: olives for eating, olive-oil, tapenade (olive paste) ...

The Brotherhood of the Knights of the olive-tree:
Its aim is to conserve and promote the traditional quality olives and olive-oil grown in our region.

Olive-mills

Apricot "Orangé de Provence"

L'abricotier, arbre fertile et vigoureux, implanté dans notre région au début des années 50, s'est bien adapté au climat des Baronnies. La récolte débute les premiers jours de juillet. De couleur orange clair tacheté de rouge, sa chair généreuse et parfumée en font un fruit exceptionnel. Il a de nombreuses propriétés, riche en sels minéraux, phosphore et magnésium, vitamine A. Aujourd'hui de nouvelles variétés viennent s'implanter : l'orangred, le bergeron.

Lavender

Lavender grows between 600 and 2000 metres above sea-level. Flowering is from the end of June to the beginning of August. ts blue, scented fields are a delight to walkers and an inspiration to painters.
The word «lavender» comes from the Latin «lavare» (to wash) ; the Romans used it in baths and perfumes. It is a plant with many virtues : its essential oil is fine and scented and is used in perfumes and herbal remedies.

"Lavandin"

Lavandin is often confused with lavender but is in fact a hybrid of fine and aspic lavender.. It is a very important crop in the region.

Other aromatic plants

Other plants growing in the region include thyme (in Provençal : « farigoule »), wild thyme, rosemary, basil, sage, marjoram and laurel.
These are all known since ancient times for food seasoning and preservation, and their essential oils are now valued in aromatherapy.

Businesses

Wines

Buis used to be principally a wine-grape region, but grapes have been gradually replaced by other crops. Recently however, the local wine has come back into favour with the A.O.C. (label) : «Coteaux des Baronnies». The principal wine centres are : the Sainte-Jalle valley, Bénivay, Mollans, Buis-les-Baronnies and Vercoiran.

The label «Coteaux des Baronnies» covers several plants (red and white). Wines can be made of one, or several of these. Among these plants are : Cyrah, Grenache, Merlot, Gamay and Chardonnay..

Table-grapes are grown in the region too. The most renowned of them is the «Muscat». Buis is not far from the renowned « Côtes-du-Rhône » region and some of the wines around Mollans are in fact classed as «Côtes-du-Rhône».

Wine producers

Others local produce

TERRE DU SUD
Savours of the soil - Producer of olive oil AOC Nyons, olives, apricot of the baronnies, nectar, lime.
42 bd A. Briand - 26170 Buis-les-Baronnies
Tel. 04 75 27 94 57 or 06 65 55 15 10
E-mail: flo.joly26@wanadoo.fr

NICOLEAU Distillers
Alcoholic drinks. Producer olive oil and black olives.
Bb Gabriel Verdet - 26170 Buis-les-Baronnies
Tel. 04 75 28 15 62
E-mail: nicoleau-chantal@wanadoo.fr

Honeies of the Beekeepers of "Grand Jardin"
Honeies of lavender, flowers of Baronnies, nougat…
Bruno Villard - Tel. 04 75 28 24 42
Raphaële Gardon - Tel. 04 75 28 01 09
1 place du Grand Jardin - 26170 Buis-les-Baronnies