New Provence Rosés Available in NJ

Provence France is known for producing quality rosé wines that are, for the most part, affordable. With so many options on the market, it can be intimidating to pick a rosé that’ll be delicious and at a price that won’t break the bank. I recently sampled two that just became available in New Jersey that are well-worth a try: Inspiration Rosé (shown below, at left) and UP Rosé (shown below, at right).

2017 Berne Inspiration Côtes de Provence Rosé

I was really impressed by this rosé: truly summer in a glass. It would be perfect as a summer sipper or paired with appetizers an outdoor party. And this wine received an 86 points from Wine Enthusiast, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Look: Pale peach-colored in the glass
Smell: Light strawberry/cherry aromas with some floral notes
Taste: Flavors of tart strawberries with some pomegranate notes
Texture and finish: Light, bone-dry wine on the finish with great acidity
Pairings: Light appetizers or fish, aperitif
Style: Rosé wine
Grape type(s): Grenache (70%) Cinsault (20%) Syrah (10%)
Region: Provence, France
Price: $19.99

2017 Urban Provence UP Rosé

Very food-friendly with richness and a creamy mouth-feel – just delicious. Lovely red berry/fruit and spiced notes make for a bit of a departure from other Provence rosé wines.

Look: Bright pink-colored in the glass. Comes in the most beautiful, intricately-etched bottle.
Smell: Fresh strawberry/raspberry aromas with some floral notes
Taste: Flavors of tart cherry with some floral and spiced notes
Texture and finish: Nicely balanced, medium-bodied, dry wine with nice levels of minerality and acidity
Pairings: Grilled fish, roasted chicken or pork
Style: Rosé wine
Grape type(s): Grenache Noir (45%) Cinsault (35%) Syrah (15%) Rolle (5%)
Region: Provence, France
Price: $19.99

The wines are available at many locations across the state, including the following:

  • Best Cellars, Ledgewood
  • Chatham Cottage Deli and Liquors, Chatham
  • Joe Canal’s
  • Montville Wine & Spirits
  • ShopRite (various locations)
  • Village ShopRite, Cedar Knolls

For a full list of stores carrying these wines, visit Inspiration Rosé and UP Rosé online.

Happy drinking,

Veronique

Writer’s note: These wines were provided to me for sampling and I am adding them to my repertoire as they’re truly enjoyable.