When many think of Provence, visions of lavender fields under sunlit skies, quaint village streets lined with fresh flowers or the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh come to mind. Of course, every winelover may imagine a lovely glass of rosé sipped at a sidewalk café, too. Those images and more were as clear as the church bells of Avignon as I enjoyed every minute of my recent lunch with Alexis Cornu, Winemaker at Château de Berne and Ultimate Provence, both wineries located in this iconic region of France.
The luncheon was held at PST Chicago, a restaurant just as airy and bright as Provence itself. Invited were a small group of writers who gathered for conversation, a selection of dishes and three different styles of wines that help explain why rosé from this area delights and excites so many.
Photo Credit: www.winefolly.com
Rosé from Provence
Provence was the birthplace of dry rosé wine with a history that began in the 6th century BC. Today, it’s the world’s largest wine region specializing in AOP rosé wine. Sales are booming in the United States (I’m helping that statistic one glass at a time, thank you very much!) and according to Vins de Provence, of the 40 million bottles exported in 2016, consumers in the US purchased 43% of the total sold abroad. Approximately 10% of the word’s wine production is rosé, with France as the leading producer. Vins de Provence reported that a “market study by EOC International found that members of the U.S. wine industry – importers, distributors, retailers, sommeliers, and restaurateurs – perceive French rosé as the highest quality rosé and rosé from Provence as the gold standard.”
Why choose wines from Provence? Once you taste, you’ll know. They’re dry – a vast difference from the cloyingly sweet “blush” wines that come to mind when offered a glass of something pink. Provencal varieties, Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre, Tibouren, Carignan and Cabernet, are crisp and exhilarating. During my many years of tasting Provence rosés, I appreciate the range of styles. Many are light and delicate while others are full bodied and exude a distinct palate profile with plenty of backbone and complexity.
Château de Berne and Ultimate Provence
Located in the warm, southern climes of Provence, Château de Berne is the “leading producer of high quality, dry rosé.” Only 25 kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea, the vast estate dates from the 12th century although Romans had indulged in grape growing long before. Now, the Château not only boasts a world class wine cellar and vineyards but a 5-star hotel, spa, villa and three restaurants offering a range of culinary experiences.
Photo Credit: www.chateauberne.com
Ultimate Provence is built on the site of the ancient Château des Launes where historic vineyards on soil of sandstone are protected by the Moures mountains. A true wine destination, located about 30 minutes from Saint Tropez, Ultimate Provence includes a pallet-seating amphitheatre offering live concerts and movie screenings, artist residencies, a hotel and restaurant serving traditional Provencal dishes. Alexis shared that Château de Berne and Ultimate Provence are “wine destinations for people around France. Families love the festivals, themed events and more.” Ready to enjoy the Provencal lifestyle? I certainly am!
Proving yet again that rosé may be one of the most food friendly wines on the planet, I indulged in sips of two distinct selections from Château de Berne and another from Ultimate Provence paired with a variety of dishes.
The Château de Berne Inspiration 2018 ($19.99) was a full-bodied, intense pink rosé of 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 20% Syrah. Purple flowers, herbs and lush red berries were dominant on the nose and my palate was more-than-satisfied with its notes of strawberries and hints of thyme and basil on the lingering finish. Unusual is the bottle design that pays homage to the two towers of the Château with its etchings and square shape.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
