Alexis Delafontaine, edited by Ophélie Artaud 7:50 a.m., August 20, 2022
Rosé is undoubtedly the flagship drink of this summer.
With the heat waves, sales increased by 10% between May and July compared to the same period last year.
A craze which is also felt by the wine merchants and restaurateurs that Europe 1 has met in the south of France.
Heat obliges, the French consume more rosé this summer.
Between May and July, sales jumped 10% compared to the same period last year.
So what is the recipe for this success?
"I think it's linked to the heat and the heat wave. Rosé, very cool with ice cubes, it goes away on its own," says Anthony Crisane, who still can't believe it.
This restaurateur from Bormes-les-Mimosas has never sold so many bottles of rosé.
And the figures are clear: "rosé represents 80% of sales this season", he underlines.
20 bottles per year and per French person on average
The rosé is however more noble than it seems.
In the cellar of Château Sainte-Marguerite, Olivier Fayard reveals his manufacturing secret.
"The recipe for Côtes de Provence rosé is the climate, its three main grape varieties, Grenache, Cinsault, Vermentino and know-how."
But for him, there is another parameter.
"Rosé is much easier to drink than red. When there are tables of five or six people, there is no hesitation. People take it directly as an aperitif."
>> Find Europe weekend morning in podcast and replay here
Finally, beware of scams because not all rosés are created equal.
Maurice, wine merchant at Nicolas, gives us his advice.
"You have to know what to eat it with, know if it's a pleasure rosé that we're going to share or a rosé that will have more guts. And the color should not be a criterion of choice."
Sweet or robust, on average, the French consume 20 bottles of it a year.