Rosés are only slightly red

The festival in Chusclan draws wine devotees from around France. Châteauneuf du Pape exports one of the most famous labels of red wine. But for a truly unique local wine, you must visit the sister cities of Lirac and Tavel, home of rosé wine preferred by kings.



Both villages have their own unique Appellation d'Origine Controlée. However, Tavel only produces rosé wines. It's said that Louis XIV and Philip IV traveled through the region and enjoyed the wine. According to legend, the latter declared Tavel's brand of rosé the only good wine in the world.

Like most Côtes du Rhône wines, grenache, syrah and mourvedre grapes are predominately used. But whereas many rosés are simply made by blending red and white wines, that process is strictly forbidden by French A.O.Cs. Instead, the grape skins are allowed to ferment with the wine for a short period of time. In Tavel, an extra step is added to the process allowing for a more powerful flavor from the wine.

The best thing about this local variety of Rosé: you don't need to wait for a long fermentation period in the cellar.

Dégustation

Is there an art to wine tasting? The French seem to think so. Being able to pick the right wine for the occasion is a matter of pride. Local wines, however, always seem to have the leg up on the competition.

Chusclan is home to many award-winning vintages. Most of the villages in our region belong to the Côte du Rhone AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). This means that the types of grapes used, the aging process and even the way the grapes are grown are all closely monitored by an independent organization. In theory, this promotes consistent quality and adherence to the traditional customs of the region. For this reason, you will not find many sweet wines in this area.


Don't worry. The wines are still smooth and fruity. Rosé is a traditional specialty, but we've been very impressed with the Rouge. And that's really saying a lot coming from Mary Ann. Of course, you'll have to find your own favorites.

For that, the local wine cooperative is fully stocked and ready for tastings. The cave is the only retailer in the village that is open seven days a week and maintains consistent hours. And you can usually count on someone being able to speak near-fluent English to help you through the process. On my first visit to the Cave, with my Mother in law, we tasted four rouge and two rosé wines. The final selection in each flight was a clear winner.


We each walked away with two bottles of wine. Why stop there? The price for the quality is super cheap. Our most expensive 2004 vintage rouge titled, "Excellence" was less than 8€. The French sometimes complain about the prices, but they have no concept of what these wines are going for in the States. Then again, when wine is cheaper than water, you'll indulge enough to make up the difference.