Vins de Provence paints Hong Kong pink

Vins de Provence has hosted an art-jamming workshop and rosé tasting in Hong Kong, a market which saw sales of rosé grow 32% in 2015.

Provence is the oldest winegrowing region in France with history dating back 26 centuries when the Greeks first introduced vines to Marseille. Over the centuries, the rugged and idyllic Provence landscape inspired a number of renowned artists: Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso, Signac, Matisse, Braque, Derain and Dufy to capture the spirit of Provence with their palette of colours.

The Provence region which stretches from Marseille and Toulon to the Côte d’Azur and emcompasses 3 appellations, Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence, is synonymous with rosé, particularly acclaimed for its pale, fruity and medium to full-bodied characteristics. As varied as the different shades of pink, Provence rosé is never made from one single variety, Romain Diho, Area Manager for Asia and Canada of CIVP, emphasizes. Provence rosé can be made from a range of varieties including Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle, Mourvèdre, Tibouren and Cabernet Sauvignon.

With a production 39% of French AOP Rosé and 6% of the world’s total production, Provence is the uncontested global leader in quality dry rosé. According to data supplied by CIVP, in 2014, the world consumption of Rosé wines rose to 22.7 hectolitres, representing an increase of 15% in the past 10 years.

Coinciding with the start of Hong Kong’s Rugby Sevens, the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence (CIVP), representing this region, hosted a novel concept of art-jamming workshop with rosé tasting in HK, a market which saw growth of 32% of rosé sales in 2015. The interactive and creative workshop allowed representatives of the wine media to paint the canvas in different shades of pink while previewing 7 samples of 2015 vintage rosé by leading producers, ahead of the regional showcase at Vinexpo Hong Kong 2016, from 24 to 26 May.

“Rosé has found a new niche in a world seeking greater simplicity, new encounters and good times,” says Valérie Lelong, Export Marketing & Communications Manager of CIVP. “It presents a different approach to wine – easier access, without all the constraints and traditional formalities, a wine that symbolizes greater freedom.”

“It is important for us to differentiate ourselves in the Hong Kong market, where Wines of Provence are slowly but surely getting recognised as premium Rosé. Art-Jam “Pink Palette” is the first step in our journey to introduce Wines of Provence to wine lovers in Hong Kong and for them to recognise Provence rosés as the world’s premium rosé wines.”

Jennifer Luk, one of the participants, lauded the concept for its novelty and uniqueness, and cited the effectiveness of sips of rosé wine in the afternoon in liberating the mind to engage in some free-spirited painting. The instructor at Studio 83 which hosted the workshop encouraged the participants to be bold with their use of different shades, that while wine was about consistency, painting was more about the contrast.

Luk said: “when you cook, you can add a bit of wine; I think when you paint, you can too!”

Lelong added that with the dry style (less than 4 g/litre residual sugar), Provence rosé is perfect with Asian food, especially spicy seafood and even Sichuan food.

The presented rosé wines include (all from the 2015 vintage):

Vins Bréban, Mimi en Provence, AOP Côtes de Provence

Gabriel Meffre, GM par Gabriel Meffre, AOP Côtes de Provence

Château Montaud, Unexpected, AOP Côtes de Provence

Château de L’Escarelle, Prestige, AOP Coteaux Varois en Provence

Château Ferry Lacombe, Haedus, AOP Côtes de Provence

Château Saint-Maur, Cru Classé, Excellence, AOP Côtes de Provence

Roubine, La Vie en Rose, AOP Côtes de Provence

More to be tasted at Vinexpo. Visit: www.vinsdeprovence.com for more information.