Hard to believe but May is flying by and the unofficial kick off to summer, Memorial Day, is this weekend. That, of course, means breaking out some rosé. Not just any rosé, but rosé from its motherland: Provence.

Yes, you can now buy rosé from just about any wine region on earth. When rosé became very fashionable a few years back, wine producers everywhere did a little embracing of their own, and soon everybody was selling rosé. But rosé, real rosé, the kind we crave the moment the mercury creeps upward, comes from Provence.

Nothing quite satisfies our seasonal wine itch for Provençal rosé like Peyrassol. It starts, of course, with the color: pale pink, with a touch of lychee. And on to the flavors: simple and straightforward, of course, and with that special marriage of citrus and salty sea.

Peyrassol has a thousand year history, dating back to the Knights of Templar. No, they did not produce rosé for crusaders, as pink wine of this sort is a far more recent invention. But the soils, the weather, the Provençal culture and cuisine have all united to make this domaine one of the few great producers of France to really specialize in rosé. We are lucky to get bottles every year, and this time it is just in time for some gorgeous weather:

Peyrassol, La Croix Méditerranée Rosé, 2021 $15.99 | The freshest, lightest and most accessible of their line-up….and also the best value!

Peyrassol, Côtes de Provence Cuvée de Commandeurs Rosé, 2021 $24.99 | The “step up” wine is still light and accessible, but there is a touch more elegance here, a touch more refinement. We recommend mixing them up: have a few bottles of La Croix handy in the fridge for whenever, and open the Commandeurs with meals or guests.