Mondial du Rosé Contest in Cannes
Cannes hosts the Mondial du Rosé
For the ninth edition of the international rosés contest, the Mondial du Rosé with its international jury of fifty professional tasters, among which the most eminent specialists, had taken their quarters at the Radisson Blu Hotel from 27 to 29 April 2012 in Cannes. France of course was represented, but also many countries like the United States, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Greece, Chile, Morocco, Germany, or even Bolivia. This event is organized by the France National Union of Oenologists, led by their President Cyril Payon. Professional tasters have tasted, spat out, analyzed and graded blindly a total of 994 rose wines from 28 countries, including hundred sparkling one during three working days in the concentration around the bottles hidden in black sheaths. France National Union of Oenologists has chosen, several years ago to give rosé wines from the world a specific attention. This contest is the only professional tasting in the world matching the AFNOR ISO 9001 certification and working under the patronage of the three main agencies involved in promoting the industry wine-wine (OIV, the VinoFed, and UICE); it welcomes producers from all regions across the world.
For expert tasters from fifteen different nationalities, the task was difficult because what is striking in these international rosés, is their extreme diversity of colors, proportion of alcohol or sugar. The paler wines come from Germany, Corsica or Provence, Greek wines, Lebanese, Spanish or Portuguese clearly border on red. During the same tasting session, sugar proportioning can vary from 6 grams to 90 grams per liter. And if some rosés are low alcohol, the average is still at 12.8 degrees.
Gilles Masson, winemaker and director of research and experimentation on the rosé in Vidauban (Var France), admits to being part of an international jury of rosé wines is an exercise in diplomacy. He said: "When a Spanish tastes a rosé from Switzerland, rather acid, he gives a the grimace as he is used a richer, more alcoholic Spanish rosé, but eventually they will end in respecting each others during the final discussion; it is difficult to make an elegant wine with an explosion of flavors."
He then added: "When tasting, received ideas about the wines extremely varied colors are swept away in twenty minutes: many think that if the wine is powerful, it will have a deep color, bordering to red. If the notes are more floral, you will find it more logic to have a lighter shade. Yet in this eclectic landscape, the global trend is moving towards very pale rosés, almost translucent, preferably with deep purple or peach glints." About French rosés, he explained that for many French, the rosé is a South wine, yet it is also produced in the Loire Valley, in the Rhone region, in Languedoc Roussillon, in Champagne and increasingly in the Bordeaux region. But with a production of 150 million of rosé AOC bottles produced each year, the Provence is the leading producer in France with 38% of national production and provides about 8% of the international market, followed by the United States.
In Provence, rosé wine production has long been a specialty, a lifestyle. Climate, soils, grape varieties are suitable for wine making in this color. Yet for a long time confined in an image of summer drink, with picturesque postcard accents, the rosé became since 2005 a real fad, it is internationalized and is now playing in the major leagues. Victory over the quality, on the rebirth, the rosé has become a best-seller thanks to the ambition and the will of winemakers to succeed great vintages. Rosé wines are now appreciated on the same level as red or white wines.
For the buyer, a medal at the Mondial du Rosé is the certainty that a professional has tasted, judged and appreciated the awarded wine, a moral approval for a guarantee of quality. France is the largest consumer of rosé (35%), representing twelve liters of rosé wine consumed by inhabitant. Also note during the competition, the use for tasting of three glasses for wines, unique concept glassware designed by the Verreries de la Marne and called "Vinalies". Refined, elegant, tall legs avoiding warming, shapes and sizes ideal for good observation of the dress, curves designed to sublimate the flavors. These glasses were created for optimal wine tasting. Vinalies are professional glasses designed with two objectives: the pleasure of the eye while giving wines nobility and grandeur.
The 2012 Awards and list of winners is published on:
Visit of the Domaine de la Rouillère
Close to Saint Tropez, on the road between Gassin and Ramatuelle, a small winemaker's "cabanon" draws attention: you are at the Domaine de la Rouillère, a bastide (country house) nestled in the heart of 40 hectares of vines, which takes its name from a stream emerging from the hills of Gassin. A generous and sun-drenched earth, refreshed by the gentle sea breeze. Here, we savor life and we can look to the vineyards of Provence. For several years, many guides award the estate's wines among the best. A guarantee of quality that will delight both the connoisseur of fine wines and the most demanding expert.
At the head of this estate for ten years, Bertrand Letartre, great captain of industry, who developed a passion for our vines: a love at first sight when one day in 1998, he came to visit the vineyard that was for sale. This estate was earlier producing only white wine, exported to Germany.
Become the owner, with the help of advised consultants, Bertrand Letartre was initiated into business with great success, since today the Domaine de la Rouillère is one of the most famous not only in the country, but worldwide, and exports to Texas, as well as to New York or Hong Kong.The 40 hectares produce 180,000 bottles in three colors (with a preponderance for the rosé, of course), an amount sufficient to control what is most wanted: the quality of the production. For 2011, we will not fail to enjoy his "Prenium" rosé, truly exceptional, and his red, of which he is very proud. As for white wine, it is his weaknesses, and he proposes vintages, which in a blind tasting, leaves you... without voice.
Tasting of Rosés from all over the world hosted by Cyril Payon, President of France National Oenologists Union
