Let’s start with a bit of history.
The Château de Berne has grown vines since Roman times. Located on the Aurelian Way, a Roman road formerly linking Italy and Spain, the vineyard was also a trading post for wines. The story goes that the amphoras which transported the wines were made on site, as witnessed by an ancient oven discovered in the grounds around a century ago. Raymond V, the former Count of Toulouse, donated the estate to Saint Bernard, the founder of the Cistercian Order. It remained the property of the Marquis de Villeneuve for the next 3 centuries.
Today, Château de Berne welcomes wine lovers to an exceptional, luxurious setting: a five-star Relais & Château hotel with 27 rooms, a Spa, two restaurants including a gastronomic restaurant awarded a Michelin star in 2017, a Cooking School and 1,235 acres of magnificent natural scenery dedicated to discovering Provence. I can’t wait to visit it.
With 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, an annual rainfall of 600 to 800 mm and 50 windy days per year (over 50 km/h) Château de Berne boasts an environment particularly conducive to wine growing. The cool evenings of the Haut Var (northern part of the Var) ensure slow and optimal grape ripening. The grape harvest therefore takes place later than on the coast (generally from mid-September onwards). The Château de Berne terroir is situated on the Triassic Plateau, resting on a chalky bed dating back to the lower and middle Jurassic ages. Château de Berne regularly uses around ten grape varieties to blend its wines: Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Sémillon, Ugni-Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Rolle and Mourvèdre.
I first tried the Berne Inspiration Millésime 2017: A light translucent pink color with an aroma with distinctive red fruits lingering on the palate (cherry, cranberry and pomegranate.) This dry rosé is perfect for any occasion. It is made of Grenache (70%) Cinsault (20%) Syrah (10%), the grapes which make this wine are grown on chalky terroir.
Another excellent rosé: The Urban Provence
The Ultimate Provence vineyard spans 100 acres around the town of La Garde Freinet, at the northern foot of Notre Dame Des Anges chapel. Set in wild countryside and bordered by a vast evergreen oak forest, the vineyard is characterized by shallow soil, laid on a waterproof subsoil sandstone slab. This excellent terroir is nourished with a natural compost of oak leaves and vine stalks. The plots are marked out with grassy areas.
A bright rosé with hints of gold.
Enhanced by great aromas of strawberry, red currant and raspberry.
Dry, fresh, and well-rounded, this rosé offers tart cherry and floral notes with minerality and some pepper spice on the finish.
It is made of Grapes: Grenache Noir (45%) Cinsault (35%) Syrah (15%) Rolle (5%)
This 2017 Vintage is made in the Provence region (France)
