“We grow Rosé, we live Rosé, we think Rosé.” Chateau Gassier. I think to myself, they should add “We are Rosè.”
To taste French Rosé at home is one thing. To taste it in Provence is a mind altering experience. I am on a press trip. A tear of a press trip. 13 towns, 9 days and a blur of fantastic everything. Food, wine, scenery, and people.
This is my first adventure into Provence and it is everything I’ve always dreamed of. The smells, the beauty, the buildings, the region itself all indelibly stamped in my memory. That’s what happens when you go to places you dream of. It’s like tasting the best wine you’ve ever had. You take it in. You bask in the glory of it. Your senses drink it in. You swirl it. You memorize even the smallest of detail down to the most minute nuance. You embrace it. You savor every last drop. It’s a richness of experience unparalleled.
We are making gastronomic Provence Rosé speaking of the smells of Provence. This destination is different. There is a beguiling aroma produced by the Mistral wind. It carries delicious elements of place. It’s a breezy northern wind that encapsulates all the flavors that are Provence. This wine is known to set the population on its ear. The Mistral brings the cold air from the Alps down through the gap in the Rhone Valley. It can gain speeds of up to 95 miles an hour. Unique to Provence, the Mistral transports smells derived from the land. Known as garrigue, the scent that is exclusive and unique to the south of France.
I roll down the window, taking in the scent. The smell is heady. It’s a blend of all things the Mistral captures and releases. The juniper, rosemary, cistus, thyme, and lavender make up this unique ambiance. It beckons you, it captures your heart. It demands you take note. It encircles your senses, like a lover. That all knowing, intimate touch that moves you. This is Provence.
Garrigue infuses the land and lends it’s flavorful mysteries to the vineyards. It’s a delicious and part of the culture of farming here. Leaving the most intense aspects of it in the Southern Rhone Valley.
Interview with Winemaker Guillaume Cordonis on Making World Class Rosé & Cru
It is here I am visiting Chateau Gassier. Standing in front of the Chateau, we are taking in the views. Their vineyards surround. There are mountains both before and behind us. The Mistral blows. Skies a perfectly clear blue, the sun warms my face. Our guide is the winemaker of Chateau Gassier, Guillaume Cordonis. Cordonis is a well-seasoned winemaker. He’s been at it for 15 years, 10 of those at Chateau Gassier. He started his career in Chile and continued to New Zealand, and New York’s Finger Lake Region. Did a stint in California at Roederer Estate, returning home to France in Languedoc–Roussillon.
The Chateau is just 15 km from Aix En Provence, the epicenter of Provence. Located in one of the four crus of Provence, Côtes du Provence Sainte-Victoire. In the back of the Chateau is the spectacular Mountain Sainte-Victoire, a favorite of artists because of it dramatic appearance including Paul Cézanne. Renowned as one of the most pristine appellations in France it is also a natural reserve. Chateau Gassier has 40 hectares of vineyard and the unique position of carrying four terroirs and three appellations. It’s one of the most privileged locations for Rosé in the world. Making the best Provence Rosé is the focal point of Chateau Gassier. Their Provence Rosé, certified organic in Europe. The days are warm and the nights are cold. It’s a perfect climate for the vines.
The Gassier family has been in the area since 1421. There is a rich history of the family and they’ve been making wine for five generations.
About Provence Rosé
Rosé is serious business in France. 27% of all the Rosè globally comes from France. But not all Rosé is the same. Winemaker Guillaume Cordonis explains, “We are not just easy drinking wine Rosé. It is complex, a lot of structure and it’s filled with minerality. We are making a gastronomic wine. Provence Rosé is different. Wineries in Provence agree we are different. It comes from the climate, the soil, the terroir, and the knowledge of the people combined.”
The winemaking rules are strict in Provence. Governed by the AOC (Appellation D’Origine Contrôlée) a hallmark of France’s best wines. The guidelines include the type of grapes permitted, & the yields that can be grown. It also covers the type of pruning and density of vines. In the winemaking process, the AOC will dictate blend proportions, acidity, and even alcohol levels. The labeling requirements are also very strict. Only certain plots of land qualify. Within the AOC you can’t make a white and red wine and blend it together like you can in Champagne, France. Making a great Rosé is far more complicated than making a great red or a great white. With red, you can make it taste ‘big’ by over ripening it. For a white, you are looking for a good balance between acidity and alcohol. With Rosé the process is more delicate. The region is governed by AOC. Strict rules are enforced and followed to qualify as an AOC Rosé. First, the Rosé fashioned from 100% Red grapes. After harvest, the grapes must be either bled (saignée) or pressed. The juice (lees) from each varietal is kept separate until the required time by the AOC has passed with a close watch on temperature and fermentation.
Cordinis explains his perspective on the terroir, “Everything starts in the vineyard. The impact of the soil. and the terroir. The terroir is a key factor in the making of the outstanding wines of Chateau Gassier. We cannot discount the terroir. In the winemaking of Rosé, you have to protect against oxidation. You avoid disturbing the wines through movement. It’s best to keep them still. Be careful and take care of everything.”
The terroir comes from windblown clay and riverbed. Much of the influence in the soil comes from the mountain. The base is granite, there are limestone, clay, and riverbed. Part of this land used to be under the sea and a huge river existed. When the mountain was formed it pushed sediment from the sea into the valley. Now there is only a small river. The area is very well known as a place for dinosaurs. They used to come to this region to put their eggs. The climate is Mediterranean. The Mediterranean climate is a blessing in Provence. Not only is the organic aspect important but directly related to the thriving wildlife and nature they are protecting.
At Chateau Gassier the focus is on two terroirs, Côtes de Provence (Cuvée Loubiero) and Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire (Cuvée Le Pas du Moine and 946).
Tasting notes for the wines I tasted at Chateau Gassier:
2016 Esprit Gassier: This is a light and lively sip everyday type of Rosé. Great with food or alone on a hot summer day near the beach. Red berries, floral notes, and peach. The grapefruit nuance adds zest. The blend is Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, 10% Rolle.
2016 Les Pa de Moine Les Pa du Moine means pass of the monk. This is a footpath leading to an ancient priory the monks used to travel on.The color is stunning. Aromas of white flowers and exotic fruits. The taste is that of grapefruit and tropical fruit. The blend is 35% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 16% Cinsault, 12% Rolle, 5% Ugni Blanc.
2015 946 Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire If you thirst for a unique & exceptional Rosé, 2015 946 Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire hits the mark. Named after the cross at the top of the mountain, the name reflects the 946-meter elevation. The monks traveled up the path to the cross located at the top of the mountain. The 946 is only made in years when the conditions are the best and in limited quantities. Varietals in 946 are Grenache, Syrah, Rolle (Vermentino). I loved the tropical fruits, white flowers, and the lingering finish. There is also whisper of salinity.
Alice Tetienne of Champagne Henriot Organic is important, but not necessarily the best. It is but one part of the equation. We have to be
Barodlino has a rich history in both wine and culture. There is no better Rosé that takes the beauty of the region and expresses it than Chiaretto Rosé.
Could it be that this region, today known as the Fastest Growing Wine Region in the United States is the world’s next Napa Valley? This is Idaho Wine Country.
The 55 judges awarded silver, gold and grand gold medals to wines from 25 countries.
At the beginning of March, in the @paysdocigpwines region of Southern France, over 1,200 #rosé wines from across the globe competed for the highly coveted @concoursmondial de Bruxelles medals. The @vinolok_global international Revelation Trophy was awarded this year to a rosé wine from #Italy – Y by 11 Minutes Rosé – produced by @pasquawines in #Veneto. Well done!
The Winners of the International Wine competition on Rosé for 2023 are in:
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international wine competition that takes place annually and is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. The competition is held in a different location each year, and it attracts thousands of entries from winemakers around the world. The focus of the competition is on identifying wines of high quality that are representative of their region and grape variety.
In recent years, the competition has added a separate category for rosé wines, recognizing the growing popularity and diversity of this style of wine. The competition judges rosé wines on their color, aroma, taste, and overall balance, with the aim of identifying the best examples of the style from around the world.
Winning a medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can have a significant impact on a winery`s reputation and sales, as it is widely recognized as a mark of quality and excellence. The competition also provides an opportunity for winemakers to receive feedback from a panel of international experts, helping them to refine their techniques and improve their wines.
Winners link is: https://resultats.concoursmondial.com/en/results/2023
Congrats to all the Rose producers who participated!
#WineCompetition #winetasting #rosé #winelover #trendingwine #whattodrink #concoursmondialdebruxelles #paysdoc #montpelier #france #Veneto #winemedals #thewinesiren #wineoclock #winerating #winejudge
When great viticulture is an obsession you chose wisely and well. @vitnerd for @lecole41 on sustainability, great viticulture and award winning passion for vines.
WATCH WITH LINK IN BIO: SADIE DRURY - VINEYARD MANAGER
Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who has been passionate about agriculture since her first job of picking strawberries at the age of 12. In 2007, Sadie decided to combine her passion for agriculture with her love for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. In 2008, Sadie started an internship at Ciel du Cheval Vineyard where she moved up the ranks to Assistant Vineyard Manager. Sadie joined the North Slope Management team in early 2013 and took over the reins as GM later that year. She currently manages 6 vineyards including the famed Seven Hills Vineyard. Sadie is the current Chair for the Washington State Wine Commission. She is the 2019 Power’s Sabbatical Recipient, the 2020 Washington Winegrowers Erick Hanson Memorial Grower of the Year, and a 2021 Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
#WashingtonWine #WallaWalla #lecole #Viticulture #sustainable #Sustainability #Vine #winelover #DrinkSustainable #TheWineSiren #SevenHills #wineeducation
https://www.youtube.com/live/PiWKkhnre94
The Ritz, Paris.
A destination since 1898, the Ritz Paris is one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
There is no better place to return with a couple of my most cherished friends and begin our dinner and catch up session with an exquisite bottle of Extra Brut
Champagne Barons de Rothschild. Made from Chardonnay 60%;Reserve wines, the majority of which
are kept in their perpetual reserve (solera) 40%,
Pinot Noir 40%,
Grands and
Premiers crus 85%
Dosage 1.5 g/L
Ageing 4 years minimum
Exquisite perlage enhanced by notes of minerality and salinity, the brioche like aromas reveal notes of pear and fig. Delightfully well balanced its arômatic finish satisfies. This beauty is cellar worthy and will reveal its riches for years to come.
The stunning facade has a place in history since 1705. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the most famous architect of the Baroque period, drew the initial design for Louis XIV.
The luminaries who frequented the hotel were many, Marcel Proust, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Many are the writers and artists inspired by the Ritz in their work as well. Hemingway for The Sun Also Rises and F. Scott Fitzgerald for Tender is the Night. In fact, the hotel’s “Bar Hemingway” was named for the author.
For 💋🍷💋#TheWineSiren a return to the Ritz is a return to the incredible history of Paris and a moment of great drinks and bites with dear friends. From the moment you cross the threshold the inviting aroma and views of luxurious surroundings envelope you.
Do you Ritz?
Photos
1. The Ritz Paris champagne. Pure deliciousness. Notes below.
2. The stage is set at your entrance. Visuals and aroma envelope your senses.
3. Cherished Parisian friends to share the experience with.
4. The stage is set at @barvendome
5. Fresh truffles with French fries
6. Probably the best steak tartare on the planet. Served mild, spicy or extra spicy . Texture and rich flavor abound.
7. Just one of the lovely cocktails served.
8. The vibe at Bar Vendome
9. The Hemingway Bar . Very few seats and always packed.
10. And the regroup at the end of the evening. This is where memories are made.
#Paris #ritzparis #TheWineSiren #champagnerothschild
From Carcassonne to Montpelier the beauty of @paysdocigpwines shines through. I`ll share more on my newest discoveries when I`m back in the US .
The bar @hotelricherdebelleval .... incredible. Have you been?!
#winetravel #winetraveler #thewinesiren #kellymitchell #wine #winelover #ginlover #barsofinstagram #beautifuldestinations #wheretofindme #france #montpellier #justdrinks #cocktailtime
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
Learn about new products, wine travel tips and the latest on wine, food and fab.
4 Responses
I don’t know how you write while you are on a press trip. Impressive. Don’t you just love Provence! I attended a press trip there for a week last September. It was a dream that I hated to wake up from.
I don’t really write on a press trip beyond note taking and photos.The days are too long! Absolutely loved Provence like you. Time to return.
Wow!! What a fantastic read. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Veronica! Thanks for reading!