Ahhh…Tavel, the dark, majestic rosé that resembles a vivid, late summer sunset. 

Tavel is unique because it’s the only AOC wine-growing region in all of France that produces only rosé. The special Tavel AOC was established in 1936, but as far back as the late 17th century, King Louis XIV was a huge fan of rosé from this area, which helped establish its noble reputation for years to come. Ernest Hemingway was also a Tavel admirer, and was once quoted saying that he couldn’t start lunch without a cold glass of Tavel in one hand, and a pen in the other. While rosé from neighboring Provence tends to be pale pink, Tavel rosé is darker and more saturated in color. The warm climates of southern France yield large, bursting berries full of sugar; once pressed, the juice enjoys contact with the grape skins for an extended period of time, resulting in darker, more alcoholic wines. The Grenache grape reigns in Tavel, making up at least 30%-60% of each rosé cuvée produced in this tiny AOC. 

Our current favorite Tavel is from Château de Trinquevedel, a fourth generation estate run by Guillaume Demoulin, whose great-grandfather purchased the sprawling 18th century property. The estate’s certified organic 32 hectares of vineyards grow atop fertile soil of sand, pebbles, and galets roules, the smooth round rocks also found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 

In addition to Grenache and other red grapes, white grapes are added to the 2020 Château de Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé blend to amp up its acidity. This Tavel has flavors of bitter cherry, juicy strawberries, and wet stone. It has a long, bold, sappy and alcoholic finish, balanced by late floral nuances. Because of its zingy alcohol, Tavel is able to age and becomes even more charming over time, with extra savory and nutty flavors. Try pairing this bold rosé with the luscious cheese Robiola Due Latte, a sheep and cow’s milk softie from Italy.

DID YOU KNOW? Darker rosé does not indicate sweetness level; in fact, Tavel is some of the drier, more tannic rosé that we carry. Southern French winemakers refer to these darker-colored rosé as rosé d’assiette, meaning wine for eating, or ‘gastronomic wines,’ because compared to their pale-pink counterparts, the darker ones are rich, savory, and more food-friendly.

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