At a time when wine consumption is falling around the world, Provence rosé has been one of the few success stories over the past two decades. I recently wrote about the story of Whispering Angel which is celebrating its 20th vintage, the 2025, and is as good as ever.
Making good Provence rosé is not easy, although there are plenty of decent very inexpensive examples available such as the Sainte Victoire below. There is a short window when the macerating grapes have given sufficient aromas, fruit and colour to the wine.
With its lovely sunny weather, Provence does not usually have a problem ripening grapes. The skill is to pick grapes that are ripe but still retain a refreshing acidity. Pick too late and you will have a clumsy alcoholic wine; pick too early and the wine could be green and herbaceous.
All Provence rosé is made from a blend of different grape varieties. The classic varieties are grenache, cinsault, carignan, mourvèdre and tibouren, but syrah, cabernet sauvignon and white grapes such as rolle and semillon are also permitted.
This week three upmarket Provence rosés and one inexpensive option.
Light and fresh with redcurrant and strawberry fruits as well as some peach, with a crisp dry finish. Enjoy well-chilled with or without food.
Delicate floral aromas, ripe red cherries, raspberries and fleshy peach fruits with plenty of balancing acidity and a dry finish.
Higgins, D14; 64 Wine, Glasthule & Mount Merrion; Clontarf Wines, D3; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; The Corkscrew, D2; Mitchell & Son, Glasthule & D2; Malt House Trim; Wine Centre, Kilkenny; Worldwide Wines, Waterford; Bubble Brothers, Cork; Avoca; O’Brien’s Wine; and wineonline.ie
A very stylish seductive rosé with intense ripe red fruits – strawberries and raspberries – and some orange juice, a nice texture and a good dry finish.
From Searsons, Monkstown; Swans on the Green, Kildare; McCambridge’s of Galway; The Counter, Letterkenny; Kate’s Kitchen, Sligo
A richer, complex style of rosé with textured peach and nectarine fruits balanced very nicely by some citrus notes. Good by itself, but even better with summer salads or grilled fish.
From 64 Wine, Glasthule & Mount Merrion; Barnhill Stores, Dalkey; Thomas’ Foxrock; Sweeneys D3; 1601, Kinsale; Brown Thomas Dublin, Cork, Limerick & Online