France – The Lure of the South

WINE TREND 4

The South of France is no longer an emerging region, it has now truly arrived! With a seemingly never-ending procession of challenging vintages in the Loire and Burgundy giving rise to steep price increases and a shortage of supply, the southern wine regions of France offer well-priced alternatives to Sancerre and Chablis and of course are also very famous for their achingly elegant rosé wines.

The Grande Crevette Sauvignon Blanc and its partner in crime, Petite Entrecôte old vines Carignan, have just arrived to a fanfare of pre-orders. With their appealing packaging and modern take on classic French winemaking, they are priced to sell by the glass but offer a premium experience to the consumer.

Demand for both Picpoul and Provence rosé outstripped supply for us last year so, to make sure we have plenty of options this year, we have listed two new Picpouls: Montmassot and Les Cazelets. Both are fantastic examples with the Montmassot a little more mineral in style and Les Cazelets fruitier. Our new rosé from Provence is the romantically named Chemin de Provence and it is a fruity yet dry example boasting the trademark light and delicate colour. From nearby Languedoc, the Le Versant Grenache Rosé is classically pale in colour, but is more fruit driven with beautiful subtle hints of cherry.