Rose wine, the summer symbol

Since the democratization of meals on the grass - the famous picnics - by Guy de Maupassant, George Sand, Emile Zola and then Manet's painting, the rose wine has found its position on the market. Indeed, for a long time considered as a « half-wine », the rose: light, fresh and fruity has become the summer wine. How to choose well your rose?

The rose wine has become very trendy for young people, who are interested in it mainly for its lower cost. You have to be suspicious as regards to the most « design » bottles and avoid them. Catch your attention on the domains, which are notifying the wine-making methods and the grape varieties they use. The method wine-makers use the more to elaborate rose wine is “la saignée” - the bleeding method consists in the grapes bleeding only for a few years in order to achieve at the perfect wine colour they wanted to -.

Obviously, you can think about the rose from Provence. The Bandol of Château Pibarnon, Château Pradeaux, Château Vannières… Besides the rose patry is not alone to be proud of these beautiful and fresh bottles: Corsica is also at the origin of fantastic rose wines like the excellent Domaine Alzipratu, made from native grape varieties or the Patrimonio du Domaine Gentile. Without forgetting the Côteaux-du-Languedoc Rosé de Château Puech-Haut, or the Côtes-du-Rhône Village Cairanne de Marcel Richaud.

In front of this rose constellation that can count up more stars each year. You will probably pass good holidays under the cypress with a glass of good rose wines.

2006, August 2 - © Le Monde

Other information :
• Languedoc-Roussillon
• Provence
• Château Vannières
• Château Pradeaux
• Château De Pibarnon
• Domaine Gentile
• Château Puech-Haut