Côtes de Provence rosé has built its reputation around the world thanks to its high quality, its beautiful pale pink color and its tangy and fruity aromas. The AOC Côtes de Provence wine region offers us the best grapes to produce gourmet rosé wines that will be at your table from aperitif to dessert.
Learn more about Provence rosé wine.
What does the Côtes de Provence rosé appellation mean?
Côtes de Provence is an appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) wine from France and is produced and developed in a large part of the Provençal vineyard, particularly in the Var.
The Côtes de Provence rosé appeals with its delicate nose, its distinct and clear notes of red fruits (redcurrant, strawberry and raspberry), black fruits (blackcurrant and blackberry), its spicy aromas (thyme, bay leaf, garrigue), its vegetal notes (anise and fennel), and mineral, without forgetting its light color. On the palate, it reveals all its finesse, generous substance, fine structure, and offers a beautiful balance. It is consumed around 10°C. Côtes de Provence rosé is generally drunk young.
Is Côtes de Provence rosé a good wine to give as a gift?
Are you invited to a poolside lunch and don't know what type of wine to bring? A Côtes de Provence rosé is as much synonymous with conviviality as with romanticism, it will be perfect in many situations, and goes well from starter to dessert.
How to taste a rosé wine?
In the process of tasting rosé wine, as with red wines and white wines, you should always start by swirling the wine in the glass, then observing it. Indeed, the visual is as important as the sense of smell and taste, because it allows us to appreciate the brilliance, the palette of colors or even the clarity of a rosé wine. These elements provide you with essential information about the rosé wine you are tasting, such as its age, its dominant grape variety, or the vinification method.
The first nose consists of smelling the wine at rest, without shaking it, to discover the most discreet aromas, then the second nose consists of turning the rosé wine in the glass to release the aromas and concentrate them.
Then comes the moment to taste, a moment where we find three essential stages: the attack which determines whether the wine is nervous, lively, balanced, powerful; the mid-palate which aims to evaluate the sensations felt on the tongue, then by retro-olfaction and finally the finish, which determines the length in the mouth.
What is the difference between organic and non-organic rosé wine?
What is a conventional wine?
It is a wine whose cultivation and vinification do not respect the principles of organic or biodynamic agriculture.
What products are authorized for growing conventional wine vines?
All synthetic chemicals are authorized in agriculture.
How much Sulphites are allowed in a conventional wine?
A rosé wine can contain up to 200 mg/l of sulphites.
What is an Organic Wine?
It is a wine made from agriculture and vinification without synthetic chemicals.
What products are authorized for growing organic wine vines?
The use of chemicals of natural origin is authorized, with some exceptions in synthetic products such as slaked lime, paraffin oil and copper compounds.
What is the quantity of Sulphites authorized for organic wine?
A rosé wine can contain up to 150 mg/l of sulphites.
Why does wine contain sulphites?
First of all, you should know that wine naturally contains sulphites. The additional addition is intended to counteract the harmful effects of oxygen on the wine, as they have antioxidant and antiseptic effects.
Are your rosé wines environmentally friendly?
For many years, our environmental commitment has been one of our greatest ambitions. Our certification in organic farming positions us as a sustainable and committed vineyard, with High Environmental Value (HVE).
What grape varieties are used for Provence rosé wine?
There are seven main grape varieties in Côtes de Provence rosés: Syrah Noir, Grenache Noir, Cinsault, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Merlot.
What food and rosé wine pairings do you recommend?
● Barbecues:
Côte de Provence rosé also knows how to enhance the flavors of grilled beef. We will then choose a powerful rosé wine, made from Grenache, Syrah or Cinsault. Rosé wine will retain its power in the mouth despite the pronounced taste of red meat.
● Seafood:
The AOC Côtes de Provence rosé, with its aromas of white flowers and its beautiful freshness, reveals all the flavors of seafood.
How long can Provence rosé wine be kept?
Nowadays, rosé wine for aging exists and, as with red or white wines, some rosés can be stored. The aging time will depend on the vintage, geographical origin, grape variety, vinification, etc. Overall, rosé wines from saignée or maceration are more suitable for aging and can be consumed after 2 to 5 years of cellaring.
What are the best vintages of Côtes de Provence rosé?
Over the last five years, the great vintages have been 2017, 2020, 2021, with the 2018 and 2019 also being of good quality.
