Provençal Pairings: Wine with Food

Judging a Book by its Cover

Winery: Wölffer Estates
Cuvée: Summer in a Bottle
Appellation: Côtes de Provence
Type: Rosé
Vintage: 2023
Grape Varieties: 59% Grenache, 18% Cinsault, 12% Syrah, 11% Vermentino (Rolle)
Alcohol: 12.5%
Average Retail Price: U.S. $25.00

Speaking with the young and very knowledgeable woman in the wine department of a boutique grocery here in Tucson, I inquired about Rolle wines, as Rolle (a.k.a. Vermentino) has become very popular. She had one Vermentino from Corsica (which I will discuss in a future post) and a rosé that included Rolle. She warned me, “The wine is really good but don’t let the bottle design turn you off.” Okay, I thought, while I do love a good label, I don’t think I have ever been turned away from a wine because of its label.

Enter Summer in a Bottle by Wölffer Estates. Before she could continue, I let her know I was looking for a Provence wine not one from Long Island. She was happy to let me know that, for the past couple of years, Wölffer has been producing a Côtes de Provence wine with the same name, but with different grape varieties. This particular vintage includes 11% Rolle. Count me in.

While some “drink me because it’s summer” rosés really aren’t worth the time, Summer in a Bottle is a lovely wine and one worth getting if you can find a bottle, despite its flowery bottle. From what I can see, it is readily available at big box wine stores in the U.S., and — at the very least — can be shipped to a big box store near you if yours doesn’t carry it.

It is a robust pink with a nose that struck me as very traditional for a Provence rosé — ripe strawberry, and hints of banana taffy and jasmine. I always love that combination. The palate is fresh and inviting — white peach and cantaloupe, with hints of Herbes de Provence and a touch of salinity.

I served this with my recipe for Grilled Clams with Thyme Butter, which you can find on Cocoa & Lavender. It was a good pairing — the herbs really sang in both the wine and the clams. This wine is very versatile — seafood, of course, is a no-brainer — but it is perfect on its own or with apéro, and would pair nicely with just about anything you can throw on the grill — chicken  (all poultry), pork, and vegetarian dishes such as ratatouille.

Okay, the bottle may be a bit outré, but don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a very nice wine and worth adding to your summer “reading” list.