Too long relegated to the status of table wine that you take out for a summer barbecue and drown in ice cubes, rosé from Provence has now taken its place among the greats. Today, the wine world readily recognises the greatness and complexity of rosé wine, and some Côtes de Provence rosés are even classified as gourmet rosé wines.
A TRUE WINE REGION, PROVENCE OFFERS US GASTRONOMIC ROSÉ WINES
Until recently, rosé wine was not even part of the curriculum of hotel schools or oenology courses. Considered the poor relation of the wine world, it was thought to be a table wine, good only to accompany a barbecue on a summer evening.
But in recent years, the Côtes de Provence rosé has taken a real turn, to find its way to the starred tables. Thanks to its grape varieties, its terroirs, and the know-how of its winegrowers, the Provence rosé wines is now making a name for itself with vintages from old vines, where the concentrated aromas bring a surprising complexity.
Provence, the great representative of rosé wines, reveals its marvels to us. Combined with the expertise of the winemakers, the treasures of Provence now make it possible to serve on the greatest tables gastronomic rosé wines 6, 8 or even 10 years old.
CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ WINES PROTECTED BY AN AOC (APPELLATION D'ORIGINE CONTRÔLÉE)
Far from the table wines that do not carry any labeling, the rosé wines of Provence can boast of being protected by an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée Côtes de Provence since 1977.
L’AOC Côtes de Provence brings together 4 geographical names:
- Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire ;
- The Côtes de Provence Fréjus ;
- The Côtes de Provence La Londe ;
- Côtes de Provence Pierrefeu.
Each of these denominations represents a particular terroir, which makes it possible to obtain varied rosé wines full of character.
Grouped together in 84 communes in the Var, Bouches-du-Rhône and part of the Alpes-Maritimes departments, the Provence wines have both the French label AOC Côtes de Provence, and the European label AOP Côtes de Provence.
Representing three quarters of the production of wine in Provence, the rosé wines AOC Côtes de Provence are distinguished by their varied hues, ranging from discreet rose petals to a deep salmon colour. Rich in notes of red fruit, black fruit, white fruit and yellow fruit, these rosé wines are also spicy, for a subtlety, balance and freshness on the palate particularly appreciated by lovers of good wines.
THE VINEYARDS OF THE VAR, BOUCHES-DU-RHÔNE AND ALPES-MARITIMES
Covering nearly 20,000 hectares, the AOC Côtes de Provence offers a wide variety of rosé wines, reflecting the diversity of terroirs and climates.
Enjoying a mild and sunny Mediterranean climate, where summers are hot but always accompanied by the mistral, the Côtes de Provence terroir brings together the ideal conditions for making exceptional rosés. The grapes enjoy the warmth to reach a perfect maturity and to soak up the sun, and finally to be able to give a top-of-the-range rosé wine thanks to different vinification techniques.
The quality of the rosé wine Côtes de Provence This is also due to the geological complexity of the terroir, which can be broken down into two main parts: the limestone soils in the north-west and the crystalline soils in the south-east. Each of these has its own characteristics, which makes it possible to obtain a great diversity of wines with aromas and colours typical of each terroir.
These very special soils are suitable for the cultivation of Côtes de Provence grape varietiesThese wines give tasty and fresh rosé wines, like well-structured grands crus.
- The Cinsault Rosé: This old black grape variety with white juice is typical of Provence and makes easy-drinking rosé wines with low alcohol content and low acidity. It has aromas of red fruits, white flowers and dried fruits;
- The Grenache noir With its sweet juice, this variety produces rosés with low acidity and high alcohol content, with black fruit aromas, underlined by notes of spices, cocoa and coffee;
- The Syrah This rather fragile grape variety promises fruity and fine rosé wines, thanks to its acidulous and sweet juice, but one can also expect floral or spicy notes;
- The Mourvèdre This grape variety requires a lot of sunshine and produces rosé wines with aromas of mature black fruits and spicy notes;
- The Tibouren This grape variety, with its very juicy grapes, produces fine and delicate rosé wines with a good structure in the mouth.
CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ, IDEAL FOR ALL YOUR RECIPES
While it is clear that the Provence rosé wines goes perfectly with a good barbecue, or as an aperitif, the best rosé wines should be chosen to accompany the best recipes, in the same way as red or white wines.
First of all, it is important to know that the most beautiful way to matching a wine to a platet is to find a combination of products from the same region. Logically, the Côtes de Provence cru classé, as well as the rosé wine of a small producer, will be the perfect accompaniment to southern dishes with sunny flavours.
As an aperitif, we recommend the rosé wine AOC Côtes de Provence with anchoïade, or aubergine caviar on toast.
As a starter, the Niçoise salad or the bouillabaisse will make a very nice combination with a Côtes de Provence rosé.
For the main course, you can serve rosé from Provence with ratatouille and grilled white meat, for example.
These ideas offood and wine pairing are particularly tasty, but there's nothing to stop you pairing rosé wine with many other dishes, in winter as well as in summer.
Do you still doubt the greatness of Provence rosé wine? Go to the domaine du Château de Berne to discover the best that the Provence region has to offer, with a selection of rosé wines of very high quality.
