Latest news with #Provence
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Travel + Leisure
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Travel + Leisure
Everyone Will Be Wearing This Timeless Summer Print—and We Found 12 Stylish Picks, Starting at $30
I'll always rely on classic staples when packing, but too many basics can leave a travel wardrobe feeling uninspired. Enter gingham: the print of the season that's equal parts timeless and playful. It's effortlessly wearable, easy to mix and match, and adds just the right amount of excitement to summer outfits without feeling fussy. I'm heading to Europe twice this summer, and gingham has become my go-to print—it feels right at home on cobblestone streets, breezy ferry rides, and spontaneous café stops. To make packing easier, I searched my favorite retailers, like Madewell, and Amazon, for the best packable gingham pieces to bring along. From flowy maxi skirts to linen shorts and gingham dresses, these 12 travel-ready finds start at just $30 and are made for warm-weather vacations. This gingham mini dress channels the kind of charm you'd expect to see at an outdoor café in Provence. With a fully smocked bodice and puff sleeves, it strikes that sweet spot between romantic and structured. The lightweight linen blend keeps it breezy in the heat, while on-seam pockets add just the right amount of function. Style it with leather slides and round sunglasses for a warm-weather stroll through a seaside town. Maxi skirts are the unsung heroes of summer travel wardrobes—and this plaid version leans straight into the gingham trend with its breezy, layered silhouette. Pair it with a cropped tank and sneakers for daytime exploring, then swap in a button-up blouse and wedges for dinner outdoors. It's easy to pack, wrinkle-friendly, and made for movement. The structured shape and crew neckline of this vest offer a sophisticated yet chic look that pairs nicely with a flowy white skirt or black linen trousers. The matching buttons add a minimalist touch, allowing the vest to blend into an outfit while still making a statement. Wear it alone or layered under a cardigan or blazer—it's as versatile in Paris as it is at a backyard barbecue. These gingham beach pants are both laid-back and polished, ideal for a coastal escape. The sheer, naturally crinkled fabric is perfect for tossing in a suitcase, while the drawstring waistband ensures an easy, customizable fit. Pair them with a black bikini top and oversized button-down for beach days, or throw on a sleek tank and sandals for market mornings. This gingham midi dress delivers timeless appeal with a flattering fit-and-flare cut and 100 percent European linen that breathes beautifully in the heat. Adjustable straps allow for a personalized fit, and the classic print suits both city and countryside escapes. Dress it down with white sneakers and a straw tote, or add block heels and gold hoops for a sunset dinner. This dress channels a similar preppy-meets-playful energy that complements the gingham trend. The wide straps and square neckline offer structure, while the flowing skirt makes it ideal for long walks through cobblestone streets. Choose tan sandals and a crossbody bag for sightseeing, or layer with a lightweight scarf when the sun sets. This nylon crescent bag adds a sporty counterpoint to classic gingham looks. Wear it crossbody with a mini dress or over the shoulder with a breezy linen set—it's designed to carry your essentials without weighing you down. With a zippered main compartment and interior pocket, it's perfect for navigating foreign cities or quick weekend getaways. With its drawstring waist, soft gingham print, and breezy slit, this skirt was made for summer picnics and long travel days alike. It hits that ideal midi length—comfortable yet polished—and pairs effortlessly with a fitted tank, espadrilles, and a woven crossbody. The muted tones also make it a great neutral base for brighter vacation accessories. A favorite of mine on the list, this lightweight linen dress easily works into the gingham trend with a classic silhouette that lets you mix and match. Its adjustable tie straps and straight neckline offer a relaxed feel, while the minimalist shape gives you room to play with accessories—think headbands, scarves, bags, and more. This gingham one-piece blends vintage charm with modern details, from the ruched sides to the flattering square neckline. It transitions seamlessly from lounging at the beach to grabbing lunch nearby—just add linen pants or a wrap skirt and a wide-brimmed hat. It's a chic nod to the print without feeling too retro. Quince's gingham shorts are your summer multitaskers. Made from breathable European flax linen, they're ideal for hot days exploring new cities, or lounging on a patio with a cold drink. Pair them with a crisp white button-up for an easy daytime look, or throw them over a bathing suit with a bucket hat and sandals. Red gingham adds a pop of color to your summer rotation—and this apron-style top does it with polish. The side ties and slightly structured cut offer a tailored touch, whether worn with white jeans or linen trousers. Layer it over a swimsuit en route to the beach, or style it with gold earrings and espadrilles for a night out. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Easy Does It On National Rose Day
The second Saturday in June is National Rose Day. If it's the second Saturday in June, it must be National Rosé Day, and the start of this annual series of rosés around the world. Bodvar Hafström, the Sweden-born but now Provence-based owner of the eponymous rosé wine brand, lays claim to establishing the official rosé day in 2014, adding further fuel to a wildfire of a category as pink production not only reached higher numbers in volume, but also started spreading across the globe. What was once the signature wine of Provence, now had legs and arms in most any country that produced wine. This series began a couple of years later to recognize and celebrate various styles of rosé. Where the spiritual home of Provence traditional focused on the Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes, global rosés were made from Cabernet Franc, Rioja, Malbec, Saperavi, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Lagrein and more. Who knew that Texas would become a rosé star in the United States—and that Italy would emerge as a major European player in an already competitive field? Themes of the annual series exclusive to Forbes develop as the bottles roll in. In the past I have always devoted July 4 for American rosés—and will do so this year. There will be a showing for other United States, Italy, France of course—both in and out of Provence—and then the other themes are created as I assess regions, styles, price points or culinary and lifestyle themes. The point is always to show rosé's versatility with food, place, occasions and timing. No need to stop drinking pink after Labor Day! We'll start things off this year on familiar ground: convivial rosés that are easy to find—and certainly easy to drink. But get ready to buckle your seat belts because take off is impending. CALIFORNIA COOL Four easy to find and drink roses from California Alma Rosa Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills. This salmon-colored floral-inflected Grenache rosé is from the cool-climate appellation of North Santa Barbara County. Lots of mouth-watering acidity with the juicy tropical fruits. This is a generous wine that can stand up to light meals from the grill. La Crema Rosé of Pinot Noir, Monterey. This is a fun fruit bowl in a glass, with plenty of peach, strawberry and tangerine helping out. Cheerful and democratic, serve to the bride to be, your auntie and yourself. Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma. A fresh every-day wine from a reliable brand that has not tarnished or tired over the decades. Tangerine and pink grapefruit give this an initial pop, followed by more mellow tones of strawberry and raspberry. Great with composed salads. Tablas Creek Vineyard, Patelin de Tablas Rosé, a blend of traditional Rhone grapes from a mix of vineyards, driven by 68% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre, Vermentino and Counoise. A well-regarded collaboration between France's Famille Perrin and Robert Haas. Sweet strawberries abound with peach chiming in and a lacing of black-pepper spice and anise/licorice. Elevated pop, thanks to the Vermentino. GET YOUR SOUTHERN FRANCE ON Take five: Southern France Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleu Rosé. Terrific wine at a great price, this is one of the wines I think of when I think southern France and, particularly, the Mediterranean. A saline hint is accompanies by savory garrigue herbs, red fruits. So fresh and easy, it's tempting to drink the whole bottle in one sitting. La Vielle Ferme. From Famille Perrin, this is a reliable budget-friendly performer from a prestigious winemaker. Light and lively: grapefruit and tropical fruit-inflected, a tinge of southern France herbal undertone. Make this your house wine this summer. Hecht & Bannier Languedoc Rosé. Full-on strawberry and pink grapefruit in this fresh, snappy wine that goes with patios, pools and porches. Super food friendly; I like this with a spicy barbecue sauce—cuts right through with its lively acid. Cote Mas 'Aurore' Rosé. Comes in a slightly larger format bottle (one liter), so goes a little further at your party. Fun retro label, fresh red-berry 'juice' inflected with lavender and laurel inside. Drink this outside and you are transported to the south of France. AIX Vin de Provence. The VdP designation means the grapes were sourced across vineyards and appellations, so this wine truly gives you a taste of France. The modern label and bottle reflects what's inside: an easy, adaptable fresh-berry-fruited wine you can take from patio to dinner table. A TWIST OF CELEBRITY A trio of stylish roses backed by famous faces Roséblood, Château d'Estoublon. Hailing from a historic estate and in collaboration with Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, France's First Lady, Roséblood, is a stylish and energetic blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah and Vermentino (Rolle). Fresh but not jumpy, and in elegant packaging as fit for the former top model. INVIVO by Sara Jessica Parker, Vin De France. The producer notes say this was 'selected over an afternoon of tasting,' the meaning of which I'm not sure, but it resulted in a serviceable wine with more fruit structure than a typical Cotes de Provence. Summer berries, medium body, floral. Miraval Rosé. The wine has lasted a lot longer than the marriage of the couple behind its 2013 debut, but it has held steady over the years. That's largely in part because of the collaboration of Perrin family, known for Château de Beaucastel. Ownership history and drama aside, this has proven to be a solid representation of Provence with true-to-form fresh and full fruit expression, spicy/herbal tinge and a hint of saline. You can bring this to a party and get a thumbs up.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
7 Bottles Of Rosé Wine That Break The Blush Stereotype
Look beyond the blush: A closer look at color, region and label language can help you choose a rosé that delivers on flavor—not just aesthetics. Rosé has long carried an air of frivolity. Its pale hue and seasonal popularity have often led it to be dismissed as unserious—a poolside pour lacking complexity. But that narrow view is no longer accurate. Winemakers from France to California are reshaping what this style can be. These wines are no longer just light and floral; they are precise, structured and built with intention from vine to bottle. Recent market trends reflect this evolution. In 2023, the global rosé wine market was valued at approximately $3.2 billion and is projected to reach $5.2 billion by 2032. This upward trajectory underscores a growing consumer appreciation for rosé's versatility and depth. Modern rosé production has moved beyond secondary byproducts and casual releases. Several leading producers now approach rosé with the same rigor they bring to red or white wines—selecting specific plots, managing harvest schedules and controlling fermentation conditions to produce bottles that stand apart. The results vary, but they share a common goal: seriousness. From a méthode champenoise cuvée with extended lees aging to a Provencal blend showcasing saline finesse, these wines show how rosé can take on texture, minerality and depth without losing freshness. Grapes like grenache, pinot noir and cinsault appear repeatedly, but their expression varies widely depending on origin and method. These seven selections challenge assumptions, offering more than expected from a category often treated as monolithic. They suggest a new standard—one shaped less by color than by character. This California rosé takes its name from the traditional French term for pale, copper-hued wines made with pinot noir. Here, the grapes are grown and harvested specifically for rosé, not diverted from red wine production. The winemaking is deliberate: a light whole-cluster press, followed by fermentation split between stainless steel and seasoned French oak. The result is a wine with structure and detail—stone fruit, citrus and white plum layered over brisk acidity. The oak lends texture without weight, complementing the fruit rather than overshadowing it. With its precision and length, this wine dismisses the notion of rosé as secondary or something only to be consumed casually. Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé A gold standard in the hampagne world, Billecart-Salmon is known for the elegance and consistency of its brut rosé. The blend—chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier—is carefully sourced from select crus and vinified at low temperatures to preserve clarity. Extended lees aging brings texture and length, while the wine's pale color and subtle aromatics reveal a measured hand. Red berry notes, lifted by acidity and supported by a fine mousse, give the wine a quiet energy. Its structure and finish set it apart from more casual styles, reinforcing that rosé champagne can be both celebratory and composed. Chateau D'Esclans 'Whispering Angel' Rose The wine that changed the global rosé industry. Once a market disruptor, it remains relevant for its balance. Grenache, cinsault and rolle produce a full, dry, smooth wine with no sharp edges. Despite its fame, the wine is measured and clean, not cloying. It helped prove rosé could be both popular and precise. Château Gassier Côtes de Provence 'Esprit Gassier' Rosé Provence-rooted but layered, this wine opens with red berries and shifts into citrus and dried mango. Notes of clementine and menthol on the finish add structure. It resists the trope of simplicity often tied to pale pink wines. Château Minuty Prestige Rosé Grenache dominates this clean, floral wine with yellow peach and apricot, plus a saline edge. With no malolactic fermentation, it stays direct and lean. It avoids excess and instead offers control and subtlety. Gerard Bertrand 'Gris Blanc' Rosé Almost colorless, this grenache rosé from the Mediterranean is notable for its minerality and a faint sparkle. Red berry aromas and a sleek, saline finish replace any sense of sugar or softness. Its restraint redefines what fruit-driven rosé can be. Souleil Vin de Bonté Le Rosé With organic fruit and a coastal lift, this blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault evokes sea breeze and citrus peel. Gentle maceration preserves its delicacy. The wine's brightness and saline tension challenge the category's reputation for uniform sweetness.
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Times
Four rosé wines you've probably never tried before for under €20
While a small but growing group of wine drinkers enjoy rosé wines throughout the year, sales generally peak when the weather warms up and the sun comes out. There is something about a glass of chilled rosé that sings of summer, al-fresco lunches and dinners on the terrace. Provence was always known for its pale crisp dry rosé, but in recent years it has become hugely fashionable. I tasted two of the biggest names in Provence rosé recently, Whispering Angel (about €20 a bottle) and Minuty M limited Edition (€24.50). Both were well-made, clean and refreshing with attractive delicate strawberry fruits; classic Provence rosé. The demand for very pale-coloured rosés being as strong as ever, virtually every wine region around the world now produces its own version, some better than others. Personally I prefer mine to have a little more fruit and character. So this week we go off-piste with some slightly different rosés, all costing less than €20. Remember that a dark-coloured rosé wine is not an indicator of a sweet wine. Quite often they are fruitier but still bone dry. Rosés are among the most adaptable wines, perfect sipped poolside on a hot sunny day or before a barbecue, but great with food too. Serve one with mixed summer salads, spicy Asian food and even with barbecued white meats and fish. READ MORE Mithus Basilicata Rosato 2023 Mithus Basilicata Rosato 2023 13%, €12.99 Available for a limited period, a rich textured rosé, with jammy ripe strawberry fruits and a rounded finish. Enjoy with mixed summery salads. From Lidl Mesta Organic Rosado 2024, Ucles, Spain Mesta Organic Rosado 2024, Ucles, Spain 12% abv, €14.95 Light, floral with ripe strawberry fruits. Try it with mixed tapas or grilled fish. From Fíon Eile, D7; Red Island, Skerries; Pinto Wines, D9; White Gables, Galway Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir Rosé 2024, Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Pinot Noir Rosé 2024, Henri Bourgeois 13%, €19.95 down to €14.95 A bowlful of juicy raspberries and red cherries. Fresh, aromatic, crisp and dry. Summer in a glass. From O'Briens Bodega Ameztoi Txacoli de Getaria Rosado 'Rubentis' Bodega Ameztoi Txacoli de Getaria Rosado 'Rubentis' 10.5%, €19.45 Floral aroma, crisp citrus, and fresh, crunchy red summer fruits. Bone dry and lightly effervescent, this would go nicely with mixed vegetables and seafood tapas. From Fíon Eile, D7; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Lennox St Grocers, D8; Seagull Bakery, Tramore; Lilith, D7; MacGuinness, Dundalk; Martin's, D3; 64Wines, Glasthule; Cass and Co, Dungarvan; L'Atitude, Cork; Drinks Store, Stoneybatter
Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Telegraph
A wine-lover's guide to the magical (and affordable) white wines of the southern Rhône
Only one type of wine has ever been described to me as something that is loved by more people the cheaper it gets. Could this be a blessing? A curse? A Holy Grail? Of course, it is more like a half-truth. I'm talking about Rhône whites and the catch is that the wines vary tremendously in style and scope. You've got Condrieu, the heady, all-viognier appellation that I would argue stands outside this aphorism. Then there are the whites made from roussanne and marsanne in (mostly) the northern Rhône. These are majestic beasts: muscular and intense, with oak that smells expensive and prices that race into triple figures. Such wines are loved by collectors and Burgundy -heads – in my experience, though, they're an acquired taste. Then you've got the whites from the southern Rhône: approachable blends that give you, for a fraction of the price, a quality I love to find in a glass of wine: escapism. We're talking evocative, airy whites that smell of summer evenings in southern France. This isn't only my imagination. I'd just finished writing that when I opened an email from the wine writer (and Rhône guru) Matt Walls, who I had messaged to ask how he would persuade people who didn't know them to try these wines. He described the sensation in an uncannily similar way: 'Whites from the southern Rhône are all about generosity. They're rich in body and flavour, satin-textured, fresh but not acidic. They're Provençal in spirit, conjuring warm air and pine sap. You can almost hear the cicadas trilling when you open a bottle.' What is creating this magic? That can vary enormously, not just from sub-region to sub-region but also from producer to producer. We're talking blends. These might include a portion of those stately grapes found in the northern Rhône: marzipan-scented marsanne and powerful roussanne – and the more of these in the mix, the more weighty the wine is likely to taste. Other grapes bring freshness and subtlety: think viognier, with its haunting floral perfume; white grenache; and rolle (aka vermentino), which smells like dried meadow grass. In the mix, there might also be clairette, with its waxy white flower perfume, or bourboulenc, which has a gentle spice. Wines with a large portion of white grenache can feel both rounded and weightless, like the delicious Vacqueyras Blanc (sadly not available in the UK) I tasted from the Bungener family's Clos de Caveau. Others, like the partially barrel-fermented Château de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion 2023, France (13%, Cambridge Wine, £21.50), are more sleek and weighty. The best way to find your way around southern Rhône whites is by trial and error. Start with Côtes du Rhône and Costières de Nîmes; look to Ventoux for freshness and value; to Gigondas Blanc, a new white appellation authorised since 2023, for wines that are based on clairette (at least 70 per cent of the blend). Matt Walls adds, 'For powerful, opulent whites, try Châteauneuf-du-Pape. For lighter, zestier styles go to Luberon, Lirac or Laudun. Between the two, Vacqueyras and Cairanne combine richness with drinkability.' You can also look to Rhône-style blends beyond the Rhône: there are brilliant budget options from elsewhere in southern France – such as the white version of the famous Vieille Ferme (widely available, around £8.50) – and finer wines from further afield in Australia, the US and South Africa.
