So where do Rosé wines come from?
A Greek colony established a sea port in what was Gaul 2,600 years ago and these people brought along their wine making know how. The Greeks were known as the Phoenicians, and they established colonies all around the Mediterranean Sea at the time. In Gaule, they settled in Massilia, which is known as Marseille, France today and soon started planting vines.
The wines produced by the Phoenicians were made of red grapes and because they were unfamiliar with the color yielding maceration technique we use today, their wines came out pink. The local Gallic tribes learned wine making from the Phoenicians and haven’t stopped since.
Therefore, Provence is the oldest wine producing region of France and rosé wines are the most ancient of all known wine types. In Provence today, rosé wines are still a specialty.
So, how is the famous Provence Rosé made?
It is not a blend of red and white wine, but rather a controlled extraction of the color pigments of red grapes by the juice of the fruit which is colorless. There are two methods for this, the direct press technique where the juices only extract color pigments, and the maceration process, which allows for a period of two to twenty hours of skin contact with the juices of the fruits.
Regardless of the method used by the winemaker, making a rosé wine is a delicate and complicated task as he not only has to produce the best flavor profile possible but also delivers the most attractive color shade of wine.
Today Provence rosés are very clearly defined as pale pink wines that are dry, minerally and delicately fruity. They are perfect as an aperitif but will also complement all kind of food from Pizzas to even grilled steaks!
Convert is originally from France but now calls Queen Creek his home. He has over 20 years of experience in the wine industry and currently works for a French wine group. His love of wine began from an early age and he loves to share facts and stories about wine.