image courtesy of Wines of Provence
From the sapphire blue waters of the Mediterranean to the vivid lavender fields of the Luberon, the colors of Provence are forever embedded in my memory. I can't even begin to count how many glasses of pale pink rosé I sipped during my 2013 visit to southeast France but it seemed to endlessly flow like spring water.
Rosé-mania is sweeping the globe and virtually every wine-producing region in the world has their own version of rosé wine but Provence remains the leader and is the only region to dedicate 89% of their wine production to rosé! The United States is second only to France in consumption of rosé and 43% of Provençal rosé wines, a stunning 16 million bottles, are exported to the USA each year.
If you're visiting NYC, Miss Paradis in Soho serves creative Mediterranean-inspired cuisine that pairs beautifully with their rosé-centric wine list.
Rosé wines from Provence are generally delightfully dry and should not be confused with sugary sweet blush wines like white zinfandel. Pale but full of lively fruit flavor, Provençal rosés are wonderful year-round but their appeal on a hot summer day cannot be denied. Perfect as an apéritif, rosés from Provence are also incredibly food-friendly and pair perfectly with vegetarian dishes, seafood, roast chicken with Mediterranean herbs, and spicy Asian and South Asian foods.
Château de l'Escarelle "Les Deux Anges" 2016 ($16)
A pale shade of rose-petal with full, crisp, and lingering flavors of strawberry and redcurrant.
Château de Berne "Grande Récolte" 2016 ($22.99)
Fruity and crisp with round flavors of white peach, apricot, and a hint of wildflowers.
Domaine Sainte Marie Cuvée "Paparazzi" 2016 ($29.90)
A bold and smooth rosé with exuberant flavors of ripe peach, juicy apricot, and wild flowers.
Mirabeau "Etoile" 2016 ($34.99)
Luscious and fruity citrus and peach flavors with a crisp touch of flintiness.
Château d'Esclans Rock Angel 2016 ($35)
Worth the splurge, this luminous pink beauty has vibrant acidity and lively flavors of pink grapefruit and raspberry.
To learn more, visit the Wines of Provence website. Cheers!
