21 Nov Drink Pink Year-Round and Make it IGP Rosé Méditerranée

When a bottle of pale pink wine is placed on the table, it makes everyone happy. Rosé is inclusive. White wine lovers drink rosé; red wine lovers drink rosé. It is a bridge between red and white where everyone can meet in the middle to share a bottle of rosé. And even though the weather has shifted from the heat of summer to the chill of fall, we can keep drinking that rosé wine year-round and there are many rosés to choose from. For most people, the first place they think of for rosé is Provence. After all, it is the most famous place where rosé wines are produced. And if that is what you think of for rosé and that is what you like to drink, I want to encourage you to expand beyond the borders of Provence to the IGP Rosé Méditerranée. With IGP Rosé Méditerranée you will get the beautiful light pink color (called “petale de rose”) and the freshness you love but also unique blends and great values. IGP Rosé Méditerranée, originally called “Les pores du Soleil”, was born from a desire to create a regional wine similar to Languedoc Roussillon’s Pays d’Oc. Classified as an IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée), the wine producers are not obligated to follow the stricter AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) rules that a region like Provence must follow. Instead of rules about what grape varieties can be used and what the blend minimums and maximums are, as well as yield limitations, aging requirements, and geographical boundaries, winemakers have more freedom to experiment and blend with IGP Rosé Méditerranée wines. IGP Méditerranée covers a large area on the southeast coast of France and includes Provence and parts of the Loire and Rhone Valleys. The IGP also covers areas that also produce the AOC wines Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bandol, and Côtes de Provence. IGP Méditerranée covers 26,000 acres under vine in 10 departments – Alpes de Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritime, Ardèche, Bouches de Rhône, Drôme, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Corse, Vaucluse, Var, and Corse du Sud (Corsica). The area consists of mountains, plateaus, and river valleys. Rolling hillsides are covered with lavender, garrigue, and olive trees. Vineyards are found in the hills and valleys of the Alpine foothills. Soils are varied but the Mediterranean climate offers lots of sunlight, cold nights, and the Mistral wind from the north and sea breezes from the south that collide in the spring and fall. The primary grape varieties are Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsaut, Vermentino, Viognier, and Muscat. But there are actually 129 grape varieties grown and used under IGP Méditerranée and some of these grapes are new disease-resistant varieties.

Six IGP Rosé Méditerranée Wines Offering Quality and Value

Estandon “Brise Marine” 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($9.99) – A blend of Cinsault, Grenache Noir, and Syrah. Named after the marine breeze, the wine is a brilliant pale pink color and offers light red fruit, spring flowers, and mineral notes. The wine is fresh and crisp with lots of acidity and a briny finish. Mousset Barrot “Bois de la Garde” 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($19.90) – Produced by a family in Chateauneuf de Pape, the blend of Grenache and Cinsault come from 20-year-old vines in rich clay soils. The wine has pretty floral aromatics, as well as notes of strawberries and wild herbs. On the palate, the wine is textured with a savory finish. Chateau L’Ecarelle “Rumeurs” 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($13.99) – A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, the wine has a pretty nose with notes of red fruits, blackcurrant, and garrigue. The wine is fresh and lively with a lovely mouthfeel and lingering acidity. Isle Saint Pierre 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($11.99) – A blend of Merlot, Petite Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, the wine is elegant with fresh red fruit aromas. The wine lingers on the front and mid-palate with tart acidity on the finish. Rhonea “Rosemarie” 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($12.99) – A blend of Caladoc, Grenache, and Cinsault, the wine offers aromas of citrus, strawberry, and fresh rosemary and offers fresh structure on the palate. Beauvance “Cuvee l’Originelle” 2023 Rosé, IGP Méditerranée ($24.99) – A unique blend of Ugni Blanc from 50-year-old vines planted in clay-limestone soils and Grenache Noir from 25-year-old vines. The wine offers juicy citrus and peach notes and is round midpalate with a mouthwatering finish. These six beautifully aromatic wines with their vibrant acidity will pair with a variety of dishes. Try charcuterie, pasta, seafood, poultry, salads and veggies, cheeses, and fresh fruit. These are wines that will even pair with those hard-to-pair veggies like artichokes and asparagus. The point is that these rosé wines and others are perfect to pair with just about anything. So, while the weather may be changing, that does not mean you cannot open up a bottle of rosé wine. Rosé wine is no longer just a summer favorite; it’s now a staple for any occasion. And IGP Rosé Méditerranée offers beautiful expressions at great value.