A pretty in pink Street style during New York’s Fashion Week, September 2024 getty
It’s Fashion Week, so what are you drinking? Me, it’s rosé, a wine category that effortlessly transitions over from summer into fall, especially as we’re still enjoying sunny days. Here are a few fashionable bottles that not only straddle both sides of Labor Day, but also make great style statements with their packaging or back stories.
Château D’Esclans Domaines Sacha Lichine Côtes de Provence AOP 2022. With an embossed crest on the bottle and a gold-etched, almost filigree label decoration, this evokes a classic style (think prep-school jacket!). This offering from the maker of Whispering Angel is a substantial blend of classic grapes from the region: Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino) and Syrah. Red-fruited with strawberries and cherries, a bit of Mediterranean savory herb. The sister wine, Château D’Esclans Les Clans 2021, has a similar taste profile, but is sturdier all the way around: a stout and substantial bottle, 14% abv and more structured with deeper fruits. It veers off slightly onto a spicier route with some ginger and fennel, making this a gastronomic partner for roasted fish, poultry and spicy dishes.
The harvest season has arrived at Château d’Esclans, and there’s an air of excitement in the vineyards. Our dedicated team is hard at work, handpicking grapes that will soon be transformed into the next vintage of our cherished wines.
Each grape is carefully selected to ensure that only the best make it into our wines, capturing the essence of our unique terroir.
This is a time when the perfect blend of passion, tradition, and a touch of magic come together in every bottle we produce.
As we navigate through the harvest, we’re excited to share this journey with you, from the first grape picked to the final sip of the finished wine.
Cheers !
Haute Time Celebrates NFL Legend & August Cover Star Aaron Rodgers With Zenith Watches & Whispering Angel
By Adrienne Faurote
The August energy in New York is electrifying — as Labor Day approaches, in the world of sports, it means one thing: the NFL season is on the horizon. On Wednesday evening, Haute Time celebrated its August 2024 cover star and legendary NFL quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, after a rather exciting practice game between the NY Jets and the NY Giants. The evening, in partnership with Zenith Watches and the world’s most popular rosé brand, Whispering Angel, was an evening to celebrate Rodgers and wish him the best as he heads into his 20th year in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers / Photo Credit: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Haute Living
The intimate cocktail was hosted at the incredibly sleek Bar Bastion, a cocktail bar nestled in the heart of Midtown Manhattan by The Bastion Collection designed by acclaimed French architect Joseph Dirand. As guests arrived, they indulged in premier wines like Whispering Angel (Rosé 2023, Côtes de Provence France), Rock Angel (Rosé 2023, Côtes de Provence France), as well as Château d’Esclans “Garrus,” (Rosé 2022, Côtes de Provence France) and Les Trois Croix (2016, Bordeaux, Famille Patrick Léon France).
The Whispering Angel / Photo Credit: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Haute Living
The guests toasted Rodgers and his legendary career, and you could feel his infectious energy fill the room throughout the evening.
Photo Credit: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Haute Living
The Best French Wine Regions to Visit—and What to Drink When in Each
By Matt Ortile
It doesn’t get more French than wine—or perhaps more winey than France. If you’re venturing beyond Paris on your next trip to La République, the French wine regions are likely on your itinerary. And if they’re not, they’re worthy additions to any tour of the country. Wine is an essential part of the national culture, and it’s a treat to witness a particularly French brand of passionate expertise expressed beautifully in its vineyards, the good-time drinks and palate-challengers they yield, and the brilliant humans who make them with great care. Talk to any winemaker about their wares and you’ll inevitably go down a rabbit hole about not only their craft, but French society, geography, climate, and even politics. Indeed, the way into any French person’s heart—and to France’s itself—is a glass (or bottle) of wine.
To that end, here is a brief introduction to some of the best French wine regions, how to visit them, and what wines to try when you’re there. All told, there are 10 or 11 major wine regions in France, depending on who you ask. I’ve curated below a selection of seven, featuring places familiar to the casual wine drinker, like Bordeaux and Champagne; as well as appellations (specific areas classified by their wine-growing conditions) that are wine-nerd favorites, like Bandol in Provence, guaranteed to reward curious travelers and palates.
You’re in good hands here: As a travel editor whose areas of coverage include wine and spirits, I’ve spent extended time in a few of these regions; and in my personal life, I’ve fancied myself an oenophile (read: wine fan) ever since my mother switched me from formula to Pinot Grigio. I’ve also consulted some of the best books on the subject, including The New Wine Rules by Jon Bonné, Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm, and Wine Folly: Magnum Edition: The Master Guide by Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Grab a copy of one or all to further your own wine education.
With that out of the way, here are seven French wine regions to visit, where to stay, and what to drink. Santé!
Julian Elliott/Getty
Provence
In the last few decades, this region has claimed its place on the map for many travelers thanks not only to its photogenic lavender fields and seaside resort towns, but also the rise of rosé—and Provence makes plenty of the stuff thanks to the gorgeous weather. A Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers ensures the local grapes (and humans) have a good time year-round; the winemakers here, however, have to be mindful of the fruits getting too much sun, as they risk over-ripening. As you’d expect, rosé pairs beautifully with the sunny and summery foods of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region; a full-bodied rosé from Var—the French department sandwiched by Cannes and Marseille, home to Saint-Tropez—is a perfect accompaniment to fishy bouillabaisse. But there’s more to Provence than its famous pale-pink drink: Darker rosés and lighter reds from the Bandol can be rich and almost smoky in a way that recalls bacon. How’s that for a summer drink?
How to visit: The home of perennial crowd-pleaser Whispering Angel rosé, Château d’Esclans, is near Nice (an hour away) and Saint-Tropez (an hour and a half).
Do you know the exclusive wine and champagne menu at 1970 Yacht Club in Puerto Banús?
By marinas
Discover a high-level oenological selection unique to the new fashionable destination where luxury perfectly complements the Marbella marina
Located at the prestigious Muelle de Honor next to the Puerto Banús Control Tower, the most exclusive new hotspot in Marbella’s recreational marina is the 1970 Yacht Club. It offers its members and visitors a unique selection of wines and champagnes that reflect the sophistication and luxury characterizing this internationally renowned nautical and tourist destination. The club’s wine list is designed to satisfy the most refined tastes, combining world-renowned labels with high-quality options in every category of this oenological menu that will leave no one indifferent.
The rosé wine list features refined options from the best regions of France. Whispering Angel (is a) notable selection that capture(s) the essence of Provence being ideal for those seeking a refreshing and sophisticated experience.
It was London in August: Chateau D’Esclans
Rosé wines are fantastic for sipping poolside, pairing with food, and enjoying year-round. Discover the best rosé wines for any budget here.
By Kristen Shirley
Girl in Style Illustration feat. Whispering Angel
As she sat watching a singular airplane float through the blue sky overhead, she envisaged the peaceful warmth of South of France. She could smell the floral headiness, eyes closed; hear the sound of someone splashing in the piscine and somewhere in the background, the comforting hum of crickets.
The sun shone so brightly in London on this August day that as long as she lifted her head slightly and kept her eyes closed, she almost believed she was in Provence.
Opening her eyes, the reality of being in her city garden whilst the floods of paperwork completed over the day surrounding the complexities of her family’s estate lay before her, it slightly reimagined. It was a beautiful day – and she allowed herself finally the possibility of dreaming that next year, with all of this complete, she’d feel the warm Provencal grass in between her bare toes reminiscent of Summers as a child. For now, small treats whilst living alone; cooking (today a gently spiced seabass with a daring orange glaze), lifting her face to the sun when it appeared, good music harmonised with sips of her favourite Summer wine would more than fill her with gratitude.
As she poured a crisp glass of Whispering Angel, took a bite of her creation and a sip of the rose; her taste buds alight with dry orange and an after-burst of berries, she could have been anywhere at all – but she knew her heart was home.
Whispering Angel, though so apt a name for its profile, never really whispered. In fact, it arrived on the scene with such a graceful yet unapologetic entrance that it may as well have been surrounded by its own entourage. It was of sorts; on the menus of every major hot spot. Personally, I first tried it in 2017 on the roof terrace at Harvey Nichols in London which I used to frequent quite often before it became overtly touristy.
It must be said that up till only a few years ago, I was never really a rose girl (I mean I love all sorts of wines but rose would never be my first choice). In fact, years ago the closest I’d come to regularly ordering rose on a beach day would be a rather more shocking Rioja Rosado or similar at Marbella Club. Fruity, summery but mostly such a divine red colour; at some point I think I was rather obsessed with it. Which is surprising because I only really ever drink champagne (to be fair, I was only 22 at the time). But the allure of a typical provencal dry rose so beloved by the summer set has somewhat alluded me until more recently.
Indeed, without exaggeration, it wasn’t really until Whispering Angel came along that I actually got excited about ordering rose over a lunch for example. Sitting with my best friend visiting from New York and joined by another friend of hers from Chicago, we were united that sunny afternoon in London at what used to be my favourite store restaurant over none other than Whispering Angel. The uniqueness of this fact is that it served such very different taste buds. K wanted something sort of complex with quite a lot of fruitiness, S wanted something super dry and I of course was somewhere in-between (obviously). Alas, by the time I fell for the creation of this daring vineyard, it had become so trendy I daren’t admit it to anyone for fear of being one of those people that follows the crowds…but in this case, the crowds were extremely cool for a change. It was a bit like when Taittinger became a little more commercial and I couldn’t help but be extremely pleased about it because it just meant they served my favourite champagne almost everywhere.
It was a delight to attend a tasting recently with Chateau D’Esclans where Kelly Stevenson, the brand ambassador, told the story (wearing a fabulous pink blazer, it must be said) of the vineyard – graduating us spectators from the most beloved Whispering Angel to Rock Angel to the houses’ own name offering ‘Chateau D’Esclans’. The latter, until Covid, was only available on the Wine Lists of some pretty major restaurants. During lockdown, fans of the wine were so disheartened that it wasn’t available to purchase freely that Chateau D’Esclans decided to offer it to select merchants for public consumption.
There was only one rose wine that for me could compete with Whispering Angel in being consistently sophisticated yet easy going and extremely accessible to many taste palettes. I won’t mention it here because I don’t want to dilute but sufficed to say, it has since been discontinued so for me, Whispering Angel takes the crown. This is all about Chateau D’Esclans and rightly so.
With a history dating back to before the twelfth century, it is only recently that it became known for some of the best rose wine in existence. And of course this is a grace de Sacha Lichine who purchased it in 2006 and recognised that there was opportune to raise the profile of rose to rival some of the best wines in the world. He has of course done just that.
While I will admit that Whispering Angel’s big sister, Rock Angel is a bit too melon-centric for my tastes, I enjoyed all of the other offerings we tried. But for me, Whispering Angel is so perfectly balanced with a gentle complexity and lots of fun notes too that there’s very little that can compete for a consistently perfect choice for our rose-moments.
Sante!
Rosé wine trend hits Cyprus: Local demand and imports soar
The heart of Rosé wine production and global consumption
By Anna Polyviou
Light and delicate, with aromas of flowers and fruits, these are just a few ways to describe Rosé Provence wines, which have recently become a global trend.
Cyprus has also embraced the trend, with suppliers importing Rosé wines from Provence and local producers making their own versions.
The Photos Photiades Group imports Rosé wines from Provence into Cyprus, with Whispering Angel being among the most popular. This Rosé, from Chateau d’Esclans, is known for its distinctive aromas of fruits and flowers. In the United States, Whispering Angel is the best-selling French wine. According to Mr. Minas Minas of Photos Photiades Group, there is indeed a growing trend in Rosé wines, with sales continuing to rise.
The Rosé wine market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the expansion of winemaking and retail. Although Rosé originated in Europe, it has become widely popular across the globe. The increasing number of new Rosé wines and the expansion of existing ones into new markets are contributing to the growth of the winemaking industry, which is expected to see a rise in global production.
According to Zion Market Research, the global market for Rosé wine is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 5.50% from 2024 to 2032.
During the summer, Rosé wine consumption increases significantly. According to Majestic, the UK’s largest wine retailer, when temperatures reach or exceed 26°C, Rosé sales surpass those of red and white wines.
In the summer of 2022, the company sold one bottle every 12 seconds, reinforcing Rosé’s status as the ultimate summer wine.
The heart of Rosé
Provence, a region in southeastern France, is often considered the heart of Rosé wines, with a climate ideal for grape cultivation. France produces 35% of the world’s Rosé, making it the leading global producer and top consumer, with one-third of all Rosé wine consumed domestically. Following France, H.P.P. accounts for 20% of global consumption. The global popularity of Provence Rosé has led to a remarkable 500% increase in exports over the past 15 years.
Travel and tourism have played a significant role in the worldwide spread of Provence Rosé, as France remains one of the top tourist destinations. Social media, along with major festivals and glamorous events like the Cannes Film Festival, have further elevated the status of Provence Rosé, making it synonymous with elegance and refinement. Another key factor in its popularity is its versatility—Provence Rosé pairs well with a wide range of cuisines and dishes.
As it stands, more producers and suppliers, both in Cyprus and abroad, are entering the winemaking market, with the variety of products continually expanding.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
Hrastnik1860 uses hydrogen to produce carbon neutral glass bottles
By Jess Mills
The Hrastnik1860 produced carbon neutral bottles contain Chateau d’Esclans’ 2023 Vintage Garrus wine. [Image: Chateau d’Esclans]
Hrastnik1860 has produced 100% carbon neutral glass bottles for French wine producer Château d’Esclans using hydrogen combustion.
With over 60% hydrogen fuel content used for glass melting, the direct carbon footprint of the melting process is reduced by more than 30% compared to standard procedures.
Hrastnik first revealed it had successfully produced premium glass bottles using hydrogen as a prime energy source last year.
Garrus: The Story Behind the World’s Best Rosé
For years, rosé wines have been the hottest category globally
Very few rosé wines dare to place themselves in the Pantheon of the world’s legendary wines. Among them, the Garrus from the renowned Chateau d’Esclans, produced by Sacha Lichine, stands out as a unique case.
When the Russian-born son of Alexis Lichine abandoned the Bordeaux “certainty” of the family wine business—selling the Cru Classe Chateau Prieure Lichine, no less—to bet everything on a decaying estate in Provence in 2005, any business consultant would have advised against it. At that time, Chateau d’Esclans consisted of a dilapidated winery and a 65-hectare vineyard, most of whose grapes were sold cheaply to neighboring wineries.
However, the visionary winemaker saw something others had missed: the nearly century-old vines at the highest point of the estate, known as Garrus in Latin. Don’t be surprised by this, as Chateau d’Esclans is a property with a history that dates back centuries, with its tower—only the cellar of which remains today—dating back to the 12th century.
In just a few years, Sacha Lichine and his winemaker, Patrick Leon, formerly of the prestigious Chateau Mouton Rothschild, managed to “resurrect” the estate in the village of Var, change the history of rosé with Whispering Angel, make Provence the ultimate place for this wine style, and create the first mythical rosé label. With some exaggeration, one might say that while in the rest of the world, what isn’t good enough for red wine becomes rosé, in Provence, what isn’t good enough for rosé becomes red! Of course, in this case, such a statement wouldn’t apply, as Esclans only produces rosé, but it highlights the significance of rosé in this cosmopolitan area of France.
In the case of Garrus, however, things go several steps further. It’s not just the blessed terroir of the small 4-hectare plot where it originates or the old vines that yield minuscule harvests, comparable to the greatest reds, that make the difference. It’s also the high proportion (20-25%) of the local white Rolle grape alongside the unique Grenache Rouge, the triple selection process the raw material undergoes, and the exclusive fermentation in 600-liter barrels, where the wine remains for almost a year.
For the winemakers, temperature is crucial in producing a top rosé, so they have ensured its regulation while the wine is in the barrel. We might not fully understand the impact on quality, but we can certainly grasp the financial impact, as the installation, according to the producer, cost 1 million euros. Fortunately, the winery has other opportunities to recoup its investment, as the 100% new barrels in which Garrus ages number only ten.
Wine lovers around the world have few chances to bring Garrus to their glasses, but the lucky few who manage to do so will forget everything they know about rosé wines. Garrus’ show starts with a bright color reminiscent of onion skin and an exceptionally complex and intensely concentrated aroma that evokes memories of potpourri, honeysuckle, peach, incense, and angelica flowers. Even more shocking, however, is the experience on the palate, where each sip feels like a serving of meat.
It’s not just the body and strength of Garrus that make it so special but also its creamy roundness, akin to that of heavy cream. The cherry on top is that all of this comes with incredible elegance, sophisticated minerality, and a tremendous finish. This profile makes Garrus less suitable as a poolside rosé or for St. Tropez decks—though it often ends up there—but rather a fine wine choice for any serious table or high-end wine event.
Hardly anyone associates rosé wine with aging, but this exceptional creation has proven it has all the qualities to age for at least 3-5 years. It might not often appear at auctions, but with a price of over 150 euros, Garrus makes many great white or red wines envious.
The top cuvée of Chateau d’Esclans laid the foundation for the ultra-premium category in Cote de Provence, a category that now includes other members with similar or even higher prices. But Garrus remains the ultimate benchmark wine, setting the standard for any rosé aspiring to be called great.
The price of a bottle in Greece ranges between 160-170 euros.
