International Rosé Day, the World in the Colors of Provence

Les vins rosés de Château Routine ©YesICannes.com

At the Citadelle of Saint Tropez, a glass of Rosé in hand, the International Rosé Day celebrated the child of the area who became a world festive star: the Rosé de Provence.

The International Rosé Day – second edition – celebrated on June 28, 2019 the art of living in Provence in conviviality, a glass of rosé in hand, at the citadel of Saint Tropez. A magical place for a magical beverage, synonymous with summer, conviviality and affection: at the initiative of Valérie Rouselle, owner of Châteaux Roubine and Sainte Béatrice, the spirit Rosé, a wine born in Provence, whose wave surged right over the planet from Saint Tropez.

Sereine Mauborgne, Jean-Pierre Tuveri, Valérie Rousselle, Eric Pastorino©YesICannes.com

Irresistible Rosé!

The International Rosé Day, launched last year at the Citadelle of Saint Tropez, illuminated in pink for the event by Alain Guilhot‘s luminous and artistic magic, invited to the devotion to the divine festive nectar, prodigal son of the vine. From the epicenter of Saint Tropez, emblematic city known worldwide by the grace of Brigitte Bardot, the pink wave washed over Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Rio, Monaco, Cannes, Grasse, Ibiza, Miami, New York, Boston, Oslo, Marrakech, Bucharest, Saint Barthelemy, Moscow …
The highlight of the evening was the auction of Rosé wines from prestigious vineyards for the restoration of the Basilica of Saint Maximin which houses the relics of Mary Magdalene, making it the third tomb of Christendom. The wines are sublimating the good gastronomy, also the chefs from the association of Toques Blanches International Club have treated the many guests with a tasty gala dinner.

Association des Toques Blanches Internationales Club ©YesICannes.com

The Rosé, child of Provence

The first vines were brought by the Greeks during the founding of Marseille 26 centuries ago. The Rosé was the first wine made in ancient times on the sunny soils of Provence. An ideal land for the Rosé by its climate, its soils, its grape varieties, the Provence has always been propitious to the development of wines with this beautiful and tender color. Through a selection of grape varieties, a strategy in the cultivation methods, and important investments in the cellars, the vine growers of the region have made Rosé the leader of their production. Exported worldwide, more and more tasted on the epicurean planet, the Rosé matches all the cuisines, all the cultures and all the atmospheres. A world day was bound to happen for the emblematic production of Provence: the International Rosé Day Provence!

Rosés Château Estendon ©YesICannes.com

Planetary flood of Rosé

Convivial and festive, frivolous and undisciplined, playful as well as gastronomic, the Rosé has become a trend groundswell washing over the world. In 2019, France retains by far its leading position in the production and consumption of Rosé wines. Indeed, the hexagon represents nearly 31% of world production and 35% of world consumption. However, other countries such as Spain, the United States, Italy, South Africa or New Zealand have a significant weight in world production. As a result, with consumption in development, the Rosé wine market is becoming more and more international.

Rosés Château du Rouet ©YesICannes.com

Delicate, fresh, fruity wines

Provence is giving birth to dry Rosés and sweet Rosés, pale Rosés and dark Rosés, festive Rosés, Rosés with bubbles and Rosés for gastronomy. The sea, the calanques (creeks), the sun, the sumptuous villas let us dream. Beyond this heavenly picture, , a huge palette of terroirs is spanning on the 250 kilometers between the Alpilles and Nice. From the stony soils of Les Baux-de-Provence to the clay-chalky soils, from the Côtes de Provence or the scree-limestones of the micro-appellation Palette, the production of Rosé is extends upto the terraces of Bandol and its soils with a multitude of colors, not to mention the sedimentary rocks of Bellet, a small vineyard located on the heights of Nice. All these vins de terroir bear the AOC appellation. They are delicate, fresh, fruity and gourmand. Depending on the terroir, the winemaker’s winemaking process and know-how, the Rosé will have different color, minerality and aromas.

©YesICannes.com

Tasting course on the background of the Gulf of Saint Tropez

The Place des Canons in the Citadel fortress, overlooking the sumptuous Gulf of Saint Tropez, bathed in pink by the setting sun, was packed on Friday, June 28, 2019. The visitors celebrated the International Rosé Day Provence by discovering and savoring the Rosés of the tasting course proposed by about forty Provençal winemakers. Food courts offered a “cuisine du soleil” with regional specialties signed L’Assistant Culinaire, Black Thai, Le Comptoir de Maurice and chef Nicolas Rutard, caterer from Le Carrément Bon.

Rosés Château des Marres ©YesICannes.com

Charity auction

Under the hammer of Maître Jean-Dominique Grossetti, many magnums, jéroboams and mathusalems of Rosé were scattered to generous donors for the restoration of a jewel of Provence: the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalen in Saint Maximin la Sainte-Baume, the largest gothic building in Provence. More than 200,000 euros have already been invested in various works of embellishment of the Basilica by the Association of Friends of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene. The Basilica of Saint Maximin houses the reliquary of Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus who followed him until his death as a witness of the Passion of the Crucifixion. After having landed from Bethany in Marseille, the saint settled down and ended her life in a grotto on the slopes of la Sainte Baume.

www.lesamisdelabasilique.fr

Vente aux enchères ©YesICannes.com

Diner de Gala by Toques Blanches

Sublimated by the aromas of the rosés from the exhibiting winemakers, the Gala Dinner concocted by the Toques Blanches Internationales Club delighted the pupils and the taste buds of the guests. Created in 1980, Les Toques Blanches International Club is a club of experienced Chefs, federated around two strong values: the quality and respect of the culinary tradition and the will to train and transmit the knowledge through France and abroad.

Serge Payant et Jean François Philippe ©YesICannes.com

Declination of starters: Green Asparagus Parmesana, Fillet of Rouget, Mini Ratatouille with Basil, Marinated Salmon with Dill, Melon & Parma Ham, Petits Farcis Niçois.

Fillet of Dorade, Tian of Provençal Vegetables, Virgin Sauce

Sauteed Veal with Olives, Risotto & Grated Truffle

Brie Surprise “Les Toques Blanches”

Macaroon Rosé Day, Macaroon Ispahan, Rosé Wine Coulis

www.lestoquesblanches.fr

Brotherhood, creativity and festivities

At the origin of the event, Valérie Rousselle, owner of the Châteaux Roubine and Sainte Béatrice, president of the International Rosé Organisation, founder of the Association of Eléonores de Provence, women winegrowers who are promoting the Art de vivre and the wines of Provence. Placed by Valérie Rousselle under the aegis of Siduré, the first goddess of the Rosé who invited, before Bacchus, to light tasting and celebration, the beautiful solstice of the International Rosé Day Provence will take place at the dawn of the summer, every 4th Friday of June, to experience, in a wide variety of expressions, the values carried by the Rosé: freedom, friendship, fraternity, sensuality, lightness, modernity, creativity. May these festivities blow the air of Provence and the spirit of Rosé!

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On the stage of the International Rosé Day Provence, after the jazz of Duo Jazz, a Live Set DJ with BLV, Clément Bazin, Jabberwocky had the Epicureans dancing until the end of a night illuminated by the thousand shades of the Rosé.