Rosé wine exists in several regions of France. Its variations come from wineification, maceration or pressing, the grape variety selected, and also the climate. Sometimes, some appellations even choose different processes for the production. Château de Berne offers you an overview of the rosé wine regions in France, the world's leading rosé producer.
THE ROSE OF THE REGIONS IN THE NORTH-EAST OF FRANCE
The north-eastern region concerns, here, Alsace, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura, Lorraine and Savoy. The grape varieties grown in these terroirs tend to favour white grape varieties despite a strong presence of black grape varieties. In these regions, rosé wines account for only 5% of the production of black grape varieties.
Pinot noir is the best known of these regions. It is a grape variety that likes cool regions and offers very delicate rosé wines with sweet aromas and no lack of power.
Gamay is a grape variety that is also renowned in the north-east, and produces rosé wines that are more elegant, light and fruity.
THE ROSE OF THE REGIONS IN THE NORTH-WEST OF FRANCE
The north-western region includes the Nantes, Touraine and Val-de-Loire areas, where the climate is temperate. In these regions, the wines flourish all year round; it is also the second largest in terms of the number of appellation wines, including the famous Cabernet d'Anjou, a sweet or mellow rosé. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also present in these regions. The rosé wines of Touraine are rather made from grape varieties such as Malbec for the Rosé d'Anjou, Gamay, Pineau d'Aunis for the Rosé de Loire, as well as Grolleau. Gamay has a very fruity, pleasant and balanced taste; Pineau d'Aunis gives a red fruit aroma; Grolleau rosé, famous in Nantes, offers aromas of white flowers and spices. More in the Centre and the Val-de-Loire, we find Reuilly, a dry rosé wine, as well as Menetou and Sancerre.
THE ROSE OF THE REGIONS IN THE SOUTH-WEST OF FRANCE
The southwest region includes several side rose wines. The most famous wineeyards, such as Bordeaux, Cahors or Madiran, produce appellation rosé wines. The rosé wines from the Gironde are made from a blend: red wine varieties are used, especially those from Lot-Et-Garonne and Charentes. We like here coloured wines, less pale as is the case in the south-east of France and in Provence. In Tarn-et-Garonne, rosés are also numerous. The best known grape varieties in the south-west are merlot (Gironde), cabernet-sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec. Merlot has sweet red fruit aromas; Cabernet-sauvignon brings black fruit aromas including blackcurrant and is more structured; Cabernet Franc is a fresher rosé, with light touches of raspberry and violet; Malbec gives rosés colour and is often made with IGP.
THE ROSE OF THE REGIONS IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF FRANCE
The southeast region includes Provence, a region of excellence for rosé. Provence produces more than 80% of rosé wines from its entire wine production. It is the leading region producing AOC rose wines (40% of production in France / 5% of production worldwide). Tavel and Lirac are the best known Vintages. The other rosé wines of the region have the appellation Ventoux, Luberon or Costières de Nîmes in the Languedoc. 40% of the rosé wines of Roussillon are AOC. In Corsica, the rosé wines have an important part, slightly more AOC than IGP. One finds quite colourful rosé wines in the Rhone valley and sometimes full-bodied. They are fuller and pale in Provence. The most recognized grape varieties in the south-east are Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan.
The first contains some red fruit and spice notes; cinsault gives lighter and finer aromas; syrah offers fruity and spicy aromas; mourvèdre brings more structure and ripe fruit aromas; while carignan is a small, structured grape variety that has its place in rosé wines.
Each wineeyard has its own grape varieties, its own wines; some are grouped together but all have their own specificity, their own aroma, their own flavour. And if you are interested in a rosé wine from the regions in the south east of France, it's this way.
