La Vie en Rosé - Wines of Southern France

THE ROSÉ WINES OF SOUTHERN FRANCE ARE SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD - NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK THAT HOLIDAY AND COME TRY THEM FOR YOURSELF.

The recent rain followed by glorious sunshine means conditions have been ideal for the vineyards to get a favourable start to the growth spurt, the countryside is gloriously green with flourishing vines as far as the eye can see - the life blood of the Languedoc and Provence begins anew.

To savour that delicious pink nectar, two lovely stone built properties in the portfolio of South France Villas, offer you the perfect base to sample the delights of regional Rosé wines.  

In the Languedoc, close to Beziers, HE086A Bastide Pinede - a fabulous traditional stone built Bastide, with a contemporary interior, private pool and large garden, sleeping 8 in 4 en suite bedrooms, is perfect for that family holiday.  In this area the Wine Domaines of  Le Rosé de Bessan, Domaine La Baume and Les Crus Faugeres are all easily accessible for tastings.

HE086A Bastide Pinede

If you want to discover more why not let the experts take the strain and contact Languedoc Wine Tours  to book your place on one of their various programmes.

In Provence, VR014A Bastide des Vignes, a lovingly restored barn, renovated by the Owners with passion, offers 5 bedrooms, amazing interiors with stirking bespoke art, pool and extensive gardens - an oasis of tranquility.

This Bastide nestles amongst vines, which are part of Domaine de Rimauresq.  Rimauresq is a 'Cru classé, which produces Cinsault, Mourvedre and Tibouren for their rosés - it is one of the most prestigious vineyards in Provence and their 'R' logo is appreciated worldwide.  The vinery is a mere 15 minutes away from this stunning property.  From here access to the Routes des Vins is easy where you can taste the delights of Cote de Provence, Bandol, Coteaux Varios and Coteaux d'Aix en Provence.

VR014A Bastide des Vignes

Provence rosés are amongst the best in the world, Their pale rose petal colour, delicate aromas and explosion of sun filled fruit on the palate make them a perfect accompaniment to all dishes or ideal for that aperitif! 

Rosé is possibly one of the oldest known types of wine in the world and there are three major ways to produce rosé wine - skin contact, saignée and blending. 
So, enough of the lecture, time for some practical, simply contact South France Villas who will be delighted to book you a property so you can enjoy your personal "voyage a vin".

Skin contact - black skinned grapes are crushed and the skins allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, normally 1-3 days, the longer they are left, the more intense the colour of the final wine. 

Saignée (the French word for bleeding) - when the winemaker desires to impart more tannin and colour to a red wine, some of the pink juice from the must can be removed at an early stage in what is known as the Saignée and this can be fermented separately to produce rosé.

Blending - the simple mixing of red wine to a white wine to impart colour. This method is discouraged in most wine growing regions, especially in France, where it is forbidden by law, except for Champagne, but most producers use the Saignée method.

LE VENDANGE – The grape harvest season is here!

The vineyards are buzzing with grape-pickers or vendangeurs as late August sees the harvesting season across France starting up. All the time and effort that has been put in throughout the year will finally prove worth their while. Of course, the warmer climate of the south of France means those jewel–like fruits have been swelling and ripening perfectly on the vine all summer, so that the Languedoc and Provence wine regions see the start of the Harvest season a little earlier than their northern counterparts. 

Vineyard workers spend long days in the balmy, late summer months collecting these wonderful fruits. A passion for the vines and the prospect of a wonderful new year of wines for the caves is what keeps the vignerons and vendangeurs going through this hard work. This treasured elixir is so much a part of the history, economy, lifestyle and culture that it is unsurprising that the whole region comes alive with excitement at this important time of year.

The south of France is an area steeped in wine tradition. All throughout the Provence and Languedoc regions are scattered hundreds of caves, both small and large, with a myriad of different wines to be tasted. The most famous AOC regions in the Languedoc are Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbières, Faugères, Minervois, and Saint-Chinian and in Provence, celebrated of course for its rosé wines, the most well known regions are Coteaux Varois, Cassis, Bandol, Bellet and Côtes de Provence. There are plenty of family run caves that offer dégustations (wine-tasting) to the public, where you can go and sample these wonderful local  wines and buy bottles straight from the source. For more information on the wines of the Languedoc and Provence check out www.winetravelguides.com.

Fancy a wine-lovers holiday in the South of France where you can take some time to explore these vibrant wine growing regions? September is the perfect time to pay a visit to these areas. The warm late summer sun means that the weather is still perfect for that early evening glass of wine on the terrace. Everyone's idea of heaven!  To avail yourself of such opportunities, why not stay in comfort and luxury in one of South France Villas properties?

La Saisonnière

AM011A La Saisonnière is a beautifully decorated luxury villa in the Cote d'Azur. Close by is the Bellet wine-region that surounds Nice. It is one of the smallest AOC regions in France, but produces wines of excellent quality.  Wines from this area are difficult to come by outside of Nice so you are bound to discover something rare and original.

Saumane

VU014A Saumane a large Provençale house with stunning views, near the Coteaux d'Aix en Provence region close to famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, A wine lovers dream!

Domaine de Montarel

HE054A Domaine de Montarel a spacious stone house  in the Languedoc near to the Coteaux de Languedoc AOC region and with easy access to all the other excellent wines that the Languedoc has to offer. Its hill-top position affords panoramic views of rolling hillsides covered in vines. 

Villa du Jardin

BR002A Villa du Jardin, a charming Provençal style villla, close to Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhones. The Vins des Sables made from vines grown in the sandy ground that surrounds the Camargue are worthy of note.





Are your taste buds are tempted? Why wait to check out these, and our other fabulous holiday properties? Click on the blue links or go to our website www.southfrancevillas.com.