Cassis is a little paradise of a Mediterranean fishing village. Hot sun, rocky hills of clay and limestone sloping right to the ocean, and cool breezes — coming from the sea in one direction and from the Alps in the other. All things that are as great for wine as for a vacation!

Domaine du Bagnol, one of only 12 wineries in Cassis, farms (organically, bien sur!) Grenache, Mourvedre and Cinsault just 200 meters from the Med. Their ripe grapes are full of all the terroir's charms: sunny fruit, windswept freshness, electric limestone structure and a minerality that sometimes gets described as "salty." 
 
A great Cassis (and Bagnol is a great Cassis) is the kind of rosé you want to drink on vacation, that falls somewhere between the easy-going charm of a Côtes de Provence and a denser, age-worthy Bandol. Light enough to drink on its own, but really special with food, like Provence's famed Bouillabaisse. Cassis rosé is a perfect pairing with the aromatic broth and garlicky rouille. And if you happen to have an assortment of rockfish, shellfish, fresh herbs and some saffron — not to mention a few hours to spend in the kitchen — you couldn't do better than this wine.

But if you don't have the ingredients (or the time), here's something else to consider. Get some fresh rock shrimp and toss them in olive oil with softened garlic, onion and lemon peel. Cook 'til barely done. Add some fresh herbs if you've got them. Open a bottle of Bagnol's Cassis and you'll be on your way to a land of sunshine and sea air — without TSA lines to grumble about, either.

Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rose 2024 - $27.99