A Round Up Of Roses

Refreshing rosé is a beverage of choice in and around the French capital offering many dreamy midsummer nights but also a glimpse of what the good earth of France can provide when guided by the hand of man.

- Patricia Valicenti

Rosé is produced in many a wine-growing region, here we take you to the south, a precious rosé making territory and then to the northern most vineyard in the country for some rosé or pink champagnes.

In the heart of the wilds of the Massif des Maures the Château Cavalier in Provence is exclusively devoted to the making of rosé wine. The good earth in this region is a result of a geographical fold of the Quaternary period and ranges from gravel soil to clay sands soils ideal for growing Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, three of the grape varieties used in assembling Château Cavalier along with the Rolle variety. The house uses local fermentations in its winemaking process to accentuate the taste of the land. The limited edition Grand Cavalier Côtes de Provence is a complex rosé bringing together Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Rolle grapes.

In the heart of Provence is the enchanting domain of Château d’Esclans, a 19th century Tuscan-style villa surrounded by grounds of 267 hectares including 44 hectares of vineyards. Acquired by Sacha Lichine in 2006, the domain possesses old Grenache vine plants with the oldest being 90 years old making for grapes with highly concentrated aromas. The grapes that go into the making of the house’s Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence rosé are gathered only at night and in the morning with the varieties being mainly Grenache, Rolle and Cinsault.