Beat the South of France heat with a cold glass of rosé

This week’s Euro-heatwave has more or less passed, but not without having found a few pleasurable ways of dealing with the warm climes.

At the top of that list is the Languedoc’s famous dry rosé wines.  In the introduction to Athos passengers’ first Canal du Midi alfresco lunch, I have often found myself presenting a tongue-in-cheek-educational-rosé-tasting.  The speech follows something along the lines that Languedoc rosé does not fit the same category as 1980’s sweet Portuguese Matteus or even the 1990’s home-brewed White Zinfandel.  A chuckle here, a guffaw there, one little sip and down the hatch.

I’ve yet to meet anyone onboard Athos who was seriously opposed to a touch of the cold, dry and lovely Pinkerton.

Current Athos onboard rosé favourites:

1. Cazal Viel rosé – newly re-discovered, and I love its posh glazed bottle.
2. Domaine la Colombette “La Plume” alcohol reduced (9deg. Volume) rosé
3. Chateau Ollieux Romanisse – the perfect pink:  colour, dryness, fruitiness, clean tasting

And yet another admission:  risqué though it is, I occasionally slip a cube or two of ice into my glass of already-cold pinkerton.   Beat the heat, I say.

Languedoc wines including: Chardonnay Domaine l’Herbe Sainte, ANTECH AOC Limoux Cuvee Eugenie, Cazal Viel AOC Saint Chinian