Château de Berne: Ideal Rosés for Cayman
Although dry rosé wines have been a go-to summer quaff in Western Europe for more than a century, it was less than 20 years ago that these versatile wines burst onto the scene in North America, and by extension, the Cayman Islands. Rosés are now more popular than ever in Cayman, especially the ones from the Provence region in France.
One of the largest and oldest wineries in Provence is Château de Berne, which has a vine-growing history that dates back to 200 BC and a first documented vintage in 1776. The history of Château de Berne wines in the Cayman Islands, however, is much shorter: The wines were introduced here just last year at the Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits 3rd Annual Cayman Wine Fest by winery representative Pascal Bony, who will be on hand to once again present the rosés at the fourth edition of the event from 9 – 13 October. In addition to samplings of the Château de Berne wines at the signature tasting event at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa on 12 October, Aria restaurant will pour its rosés at a wine pairing dinner on 10 October.
Available in Cayman
Several of Château de Berne’s rosé wines at different price points are now available at Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits. These wines will be presented throughout this year’s Cayman Wine Fest.
Romance Rosé is made of a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Merlot grapes sourced from the region.
“It’s a very complex blend, but a simple wine with freshness and good acidity, Bony says. “It’s an excellent brunch wine.”
The grapes used to make Inspiration Rosé are all sourced from within the Côtes de Provence region. The blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan grapes produces a more balanced and refined rosé, typical of the Provence style. To maintain its pale pink colour and delicate fruity aromas, inert gases and stringent cool temperatures are used during the winemaking process, which is under the guidance Château de Berne’s visionary oenologist, Alexis Cornu.
Because most of the grapes used to make Inspiration Rosé mostly come from Château de Berne’s own vineyards, which lie on limestone hills and valleys, this rosé features more minerality and structure than most Provence rosés.
The Ultimate Provence Rosé is a unique blend of Syrah, Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache and the white grape, Rolle – which is the same grape known as Vermentino in Italy. All of the grapes used in this wine come from the Château de Berne estate, which has been organically certified since the 2022 vintage. Although it shares the same delicate pink colour as typical Provence rosés, this wine is made in a more contemporary style that has intense aromas and flavours.
“It also shows some spiciness from the Syrah,” Bony says.
Bottle Designs
What becomes immediately evident when looking at the various Château de Berne wines is that they all feature different bottle designs.
The bottle for the Inspiration Rosé wines is square, a tribute to the two square towers at the entrance of the Château de Berne estate.
“Provence has more freedom than Champagne or Bordeaux, which must use specific bottles,” says Bony. “In France, a square bottle is very well known and it’s a Château de Berne signature and part of its DNA.”
The Romance Rosé bottles feature a glass stopper instead of cork and an interior bubble design that only becomes visible as the wine is poured.
The Ultimate Rosé features an elegant bottle design with a ribbed glass finish that echoes the elegance and structure of the wine inside.
Why Rosé?
Rosés have long been popular as summer wines partially because they are served cold, have summery fruit flavours and tend to pair well with a larger variety of foods than white wines.
Bony thinks another reason is their drinkability. “People are tired of drinking oaky and heavy wines,” he says. “Consumers are looking for more freshness, elegance and fruitiness, and wines that are easier to drink. Thanks to their nice acidity, freshness, fruitiness and minerality, Provence rosé wines have become very popular, trendy and ideal for warmer climates.”
A White Wine from Provence
Although Bony says 80% of the wines produced by Château de Berne are rosés, the winery also produces a limited number of red and white wines. One of the whites, Ultimate Provence Blanc, will soon be available at Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits stores.
Made entirely from Rolle grapes grown on the Château de Berne estate, these wines display intense citrus aromas with some spicy undertones on the palate. With an alcohol content of only 12.5%, this is an ideal lunch or brunch wine that would pair well with chicken or seafood dishes.
For tickets to Tortuga’s 2024 Cayman Wine Fest experiences, click here.
Written and produced by Alan Markoff on behalf of Cayman Wine Fest .
