5 Côtes de Provence rosés you should be sipping this summer

Summer is just around the corner and the breezy vineyards and sunny beaches of the Côtes de Provence are calling. The region is renowned for its production of the world’s best pale pink wines, and the fresh, sweet, sun-kissed flavours are simply in a league of their own. If you want to transport yourself to the South of France this summer, it’s all about leisurely lunches washed down with bottles of home-grown Côtes de Provence rosé. From award-winning grapes to celebrity-endorsed estates, here are five of the best Côtes de Provence rosés you should be sipping this summer.

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1. Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé

In 2006, Sacha Lichine, the heir to a prestigious Bordeaux wine dynasty, acquired the Château d’Esclans estate. His vision was to revolutionise rosé and create the world’s greatest rosés by bringing innovative winemaking techniques to Côtes de Provence – and he succeeded. His multi award-winning Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé, is now the benchmark for Provençal rosé.

Made with a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino), the dry, subtle flavours of strawberry, citrus, and dried herbs and spice create a remarkably smooth finish. The elegant bottle and label and the dusky pink colour, make this a classic Côtes de Provence rosé.

You’ll find the Whispering Angel in bars and restaurants across the Riviera, Europe and the rest of the world and it remains one of the best rosés in the ​​Côtes de Provence region. Or why not enjoy a glass at the source? As Sacha says “In the Esclans Valley angels whisper. If you drink this wine, you might hear them… If you visit us, you might see them.” It’s worth a trip to Provence just for that experience alone.

2. Mirabeau Pure Provence Rosé

With a dream to make one of the very best Provence rosés in the region, London couple Stephen and Jeany Cronk relocated with their three children to Cotignac, a little village in the heart of Provence. That was in 2008 and now 14 years later, Stephen, Jeany and their dedicated team of winemakers have created some of the world’s finest Côtes de Provence rosé.

Their 20-hectare wine estate, Domaine Mirabeau, spreads across a nature reserve near the Golf of St Tropez, hedged by classic Provençal villages. They’ve won countless awards and produce some of the most beloved Provence rosés in 50 countries across Europe, Australia and North America.

While this estate produces several great wines, you can’t miss their flagship Côtes de Provence wine, Mirabeau Pure Provence Rosé. Known as ‘Provence in a glass’, this rosé is all about sun-kissed citrus and bursts of lychee, mandarine and red summer berries. And with a gorgeous pink colour, how can you not dream of warm, breezy days on the Côte d’Azur.

3. Maison Saint Aix, Vin De Provence Rosé

If you’re looking for a Côtes de Provence rosé that truly captures the best of Provence, put AIX Rosé on your list. The beautiful salmon pink colour and the sophisticated flavours exuding peach, red berry, and floral notes immediately transport you to the sandy shores and beach clubs of the South of France.

AIX Rosé was born out of the historic Maison Saint Aix winery, set 420 metres above sea level, high in the northern hills of the Aix-en-Provence region. It’s this strategic position that contributes to AIX Rosé’s elegant profile. The grapevines grow within mineral-rich soils, away from the heat of the coast and with cooling Mistral winds, yet with 300 days of sun every year. These conditions are perfect to grow Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes and it’s this stunning blend that makes up AIX Rosé.

There’s little wonder why AIX is a best-selling, award-winning rosé every year, and with a massive 15-litre bottle on the shelves, there’s no better way to quench your thirst with friends this summer.

4. Château Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé

The Côtes de Provence is the summer playground of the rich and famous, so it makes sense that you can find a quality Provençal rosé produced by celebrities. But the Château Miraval rosé isn’t famous only because it’s owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; it also has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best Côtes de Provence rosés on the market.

Miraval rosé is produced by the Perrin family, the globally renowned French winemakers of the superb Rhone wines at Chateau de Beaucastel. And when they say it’s a work of art, they’re not exaggerating.

This exquisite rosé is made with a blend of organic grapes and the sweet, acidic notes of rich raspberries make it a great pairing with traditional Côtes de Provence food like bouillabaisse and shellfish.

5. Château Minuty M Côtes de Provence Rosé

Originally built in the mid-19th century under Napoleon III, ​​Gabriel Farnet acquired Château Minuty in 1936 and began replanting the whole estate. The Matton family has now run the state for four generations.

Brothers Jean-Etienne and François Matton took over in the 1990s and Jean-Etienne’s daughter Anne-Victoire Matton came on to the scene in 2022. They’ve continued to renovate the vineyards and now use an outstanding blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Tibouren grapes.

As a family, they’ve turned the estate into a world-class producer of Côtes de Provence rosé. The clear pink Château Minuty M Rosé is summer in a glass with notes of peach, candied orange, grapefruit, red berries, and bitter almonds. It’s rich, zesty, and refreshing and it’s the perfect way to cool down on a balmy summer’s day.

The beautiful bottle also offers a dose of family history as it was originally designed by Jean-Etienne and François Matton’s mother in the 1960s. Enjoy a bottle by the beach with olives, tapenade, shellfish, or salade niçoise, for a dreamy Provençal summer.

 

What is your favourite Côtes de Provence rosé? Let us know in the comments below…