I adore Rosé wine! It is light, crisp, and pairs well with so many foods. But most importantly, some of my most favorite memories have involved a glass of Rosé! Recently a group of work colleagues and I went on a Rosé cruise around Manhattan. Imagine being aboard a large boat filled entirely with different stations sampling a variety of Rosé wine. It was heaven!
Rosé is one of the most popular and trendiest wines currently on the market. In fact, the consumer market for Rosé is estimated at approximately 36 million people. One of the top and certainly most famous regions producing Rosé wine is the Provence region in the south of France. Another one of my favorite regions producing yummy Rosé wine is the Tavel region in the southern Rhone valley of France. While both are considered Rosé wine, they couldn’t be more different!
Provence Rose
For many people, Provence Rosé is a springtime to summertime wine given its light body and crisp acidity. Most Rosé wines from Provence are made from the blends of the local grapes like Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Syrah. The Provencal Rosé is very pale with a pink to salmon-like color. Classic Provence Rosé is full of fruits, from wild strawberries to raspberries to fresh-cut watermelon, and citrus, finishing with minerality on the palate.
Tavel Rose
Many consider Rosé from the Tavel region the “Rosé of Autumn” because of its darker pink color and more robust flavor, but I like to drink it year-round. Tavel is an unusually dry Rosé with more body and structure than the Provencal styles of Rosé. It is considered to be closer to a red wine than white wine because it has many of the characteristics of good red wine, just less color. It is made primarily with Grenache and Cinsault, grapes. Tavel is characterized by red fruit aromas and flavors, complexity, and gorgeous color. If you are predominantly a red wine lover, I highly suggest you try a Tavel Rosé!
Pairings
It is hard to go wrong when pairing food with Rosé wine in my opinion. However, there are some classic pairings to consider. For the Provence style of Rosé, grilled or roasted vegetable dishes such as ratatouille, salads with fruit, and grilled seafood such as salmon or tuna are sure bets. For Tavel Rosé, consider a cheese and fruit board, grilled meats and sausages, and hearty stews. I also like to pair Tavel with desserts. Interestingly, both work very well for your Thanksgiving table! Check out my favorite pairings below.
My Favorite Rosé Pairings
One of my favorite, unexpected pairings is
pasta and a Provence rosé! Great for a
weekday meal.
There’s nothing better to celebrate
strawberry season than a simple pairing
of Strawberry & Spinach salad with a
refreshing Tavel Rose from France!
A classic Provence pairing, this salad represents
Spring for me. There is nothing better than dining
al fresco with this salad and a glass of Provence Rosé!
Grilled Vegetables with Pistou
Another classic pairing. Pistou is
an olive oil-based basil sauce from the south of
France that closely resembles pesto. The minerality
in the Rosé complements it beautifully!
Apples are my favorite fruit – any time of year.
But there is something really special about the
taste of apples in the Fall. The Tavel Rose
complements the sweetness of the apples with
the spiciness of the cinnamon in the tart.
