Rosé Wine

HOW ROSÉ WINE IS MADE?

The production of a rosé wine is similar to that of a white wine. The difference is that the grape varieties used are usually black, whereas white wines generally are made from white grape varieties. This is what gives rosé wines a nice pink colour.

There are rosés with a very light colour, and conversely, rosé wines with a more intense and deep colour tending towards red. There are two main methods of vinification:

• The saignée method: This method is the most common and it includes a maceration of the juice on the grape skins up to 48 hours. It is the skins of the black grape varieties that give the pink colour to the wine. These rosé wines have more power, aromas and a fairly deep colour. They are well suited to gastronomy.
• Direct pressing: The grapes are crushed and pressed directly. These rosé wines have a very pale pink colour and are delicately fruity.

ROSÉ WINES CAN BE DRUNK ALL YEAR ROUND

Rosé wine is not only drunk in summer, it can be enjoyed all year round! Synonymous with conviviality, rosé wine is attracting more and more consumers and is perfectly suited to summer tables or special occasions. Rosé wine has been able to establish itself in the face of changing consumer trends and lifestyles: less structured meals, exotic cuisine, simple and straightforward gastronomy, and a desire to discover new things. Rosé wine is a wine of pleasure and conviviality that can be enjoyed all year round to the delight of our taste buds.

Among the rosé wines, we find in particular organic rosés with estates that are concerned about their environmental impact, such as the Domaine Uby, Domaine Jeff Carrel and Domaine Château Sainte Marguerite.

CHOOSING A ROSÉ WINE ACCORDING TO ITS COLOUR

The range of colours in rosé wine is relatively wide and varies according to the grape variety, the maceration time and the ageing of the wine.

While the colour of a rosé does not give any indication of its quality or alcohol content, it can be a good indicator of its aroma and taste.

A light colour will produce a light, low-tannin wine with a taste of exotic fruits and a floral mouthfeel. This is the case for most rosé wines from Provence. A darker colour will reveal a more structured wine with a pronounced taste, with flavours of blackcurrant and red fruit.

GASTRONOMIC ROSÉS

Complex to elaborate, gastronomic rosé wines enhance the most refined dishes and allow numerous food and wine pairings. Delicate and meticulous, they come in a variety of flavours and can be enjoyed all year round. They are structured and elegant wines, round and generous, enriched with subtle nuances that will charm you. They are best drunk young and seduce with their freshness and flavours. Full-bodied and spicy, they go very well with a cold starter such as ceviche, white meat, lobster salad with Asian accents or salmon gravlax.

They can be found under various appellations: Côtes de Provence AOC, Bandol AOC, Languedoc AOC , des Corsican rosés, such as Patrimonio and Figari or rosé wines from Rhône and South-West France. And also under well-known names which make the prestige of the domaines, like in Provence with Domaine Miraval created by the famous celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie, Château d'Esclans in search of the best rosés in the world or the famous Château Minuty.

TOP-OF-THE-RANGE ROSÉ WINES

These are truly exceptional wines! They are mostly made from old vines and are made with special care: they are harvested exclusively by hand, in small crates to prevent oxidation. These high-class rosés, produced in limited quantities, are priced to match their reputation and justify their unique character. Great rosés are wines that can be aged, like the great rosés of Provence, which can be kept for several years.

These prestigious rosé wines can be found under various names, such as the famous rosé wine Château de Berne or Domaine Gérard Bertand.

HOW TO TASTE ROSÉ WINE?

Rosé wine should be served chilled! As with white wine, the ideal temperature for tasting a rosé is between 12°C for more structured rosés and 10°C for lighter ones. Temperature is very important when tasting rosé wines. If it is too cool, you will lose all the aromas and the wine will seem bland. On the other hand, if it is drunk too warm, the rosé wine will simply not be pleasant to drink. Use an ice bucket to maintain the right temperature throughout the meal.