From: Languedoc, France
Varietals: 70% Caladoc, 15% Marselan, 15% Merlot
Tasting Notes: Clocking in at a modest 13% alcohol, it offers bright, salt-tinged flavors of raspberry and ripe citrus fruits, with a sneakily long finish given its modest price. With some air, this gorgeous rosé opens to show off orange and grapefruit citrus, rose hip florals, peach and rose apple fruit, and an overall vibe that gives off beachy feels with a subtle, saline finish that lingers and lasts.
Pairing: The Camargue is renowned not only for its wines but also for producing salt from vast marshes that hug the Mediterranean (often used for salted butter!) and varyingly hued and deeply nutty wild rice. Either of those ingredients is a safe bet for pairing with Vé, which also would taste great with seafood and salads.
We love the idea of Valeriole’s “Vé” Mediterranée Rosé alongside this NYT recipe for Endive Leaves with Crab Rillettes…another creative and delicious way to cook with tinned fish, one of our favorite easy, healthy, and environmentally conscious ingredients!
Endive Leaves with Crab Rillettes
by Martha Rose Shulman
About. Camargue has a dynamic landscape; just upstream from the ancient city of Arles, where the Rhône River divides into the Grand Rhône and Petit Rhône, lies the historic Mas de Valériole. This 45-hectare estate, with 32 hectares dedicated to vineyards, has been the Michel family’s property since the late 1950s.
The Camargue, known for its stark beauty and as a source of inspiration for artists like Gaugin and Van Gogh, is marked by its rugged terrain and the Mediterranean's moderating breezes. This unique region produces distinct agricultural products, including salt, wild rice, and wine. The Michel family's estate is situated just ten miles south of Arles, an area enriched by alluvial loam, sand, clay, and limestone soils deposited by the Grand Rhône. This variety of soils supports the diverse cépages cultivated on the estate.
In the early 2000s, Jean-Paul and Patrick Michel began refining their approach to viticulture by adopting organic farming practices, which became certified in 2006. The commitment to organic methods includes avoiding chemical treatments, facilitated by the steady Mediterranean winds that help maintain the vines' health and moderate alcohol levels in the grapes.
The vineyard focuses on grape varieties that thrive in Camargue's climate, including traditional types like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as hybrids such as Caladoc (a cross between Grenache and Malbec) and Marselan (Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon). These choices reflect the Michel family’s dedication to producing wines that reflect Provence’s freshness and the unique, wild character of the Camargue, often with a noticeable salinity that is the region's signature.
As the next generation of the Michel family begins to assume greater responsibilities, there are exciting new projects anticipated, ensuring that the legacy of Mas de Valériole continues to evolve and inspire.
Wine Notes: One of Mas de Valériole’s most prominent wines is ‘Vé,' a name derived from the local Provençal expression meaning “Look at that!”. This wine exemplifies the estate's philosophy of minimal intervention, being pressed directly post-harvest and undergoing only a brief refinement in stainless steel before bottling. This process ensures that 'Vé' captures the Camargue's essence, showcasing the fruit's simplicity and purity.
