Provence, in southeastern France, is a land of sun-soaked vineyards, charming stone châteaux, and a Mediterranean lifestyle that calls for light, elegant wines. Here, the luxury rosé was born — a style lighter than red but more refined than white, perfectly suited to bouillabaisse, seafood, and herb-laden dishes. Today, two estates stand out as pioneers: Château Minuty and Château d’Esclans. Visiting them offers not just a taste of wine, but an immersion into Provençal culture and craftsmanship.

Château Minuty: Tradition and Terroir

Our journey begins at Château Minuty, located in Gassin, in the heart of Provence. The estate has been in the Matton family since 1936 and now enters its fourth generation. The château itself is a small, ivy-clad stone building dating back to the era of Napoleon III, complete with a chapel that inspired the label of its signature wine, L’Oratoire.

Here, harvest is a hands-on affair. Manual picking begins before 8:30 a.m., preserving the delicate aromas and preventing oxidation. The vineyard spans 167 hectares, with half planted with Grenache noir, which must be harvested in a tight two-week window when all parcels reach peak ripeness. Skilled pickers from Granada, Spain — some families working here for generations — ensure that every grape is treated with care.

Manual harvest extends the life of vines, allowing them to produce fruit for up to 45 years compared to 30 under mechanical harvest. This attention to detail, combined with organic practices, results in wines that are fresh, elegant, and expressive of Provence, suitable for beach lunches or high-end restaurant pairings worldwide.

Château d’Esclans: Iconic Luxury Rosé

Next, we visit Château d’Esclans, home to the world-famous Garrus, one of the most expensive rosés in the world, priced around €150 per bottle. Located 25 kilometers from Fréjus, the estate covers 260 hectares, with 74 planted with vineyards. Its Tuscan-inspired château features vaulted cellars dating back to 1201, providing both history and atmosphere for tastings and private dinners.

Purchased and developed by Sacha Lichine, Château d’Esclans introduced the concept of luxury rosé in the early 2000s with wines like Whispering Angel, and in 2019, LVMH acquired a majority stake to expand globally. The vineyards combine century-old Grenache and Vermentino vines, hand-harvested and fermented in French oak for the top-tier wines, while mechanically harvested grapes from neighboring vineyards create approachable, everyday rosés.

The Harvest Experience

Visiting these estates is a sensory adventure. The harvest begins early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat, with grapes carefully sorted and placed in small 10-kilogram boxes to prevent crushing. Walking through the rows of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault, you get a sense of why Provence rosé is both delicate and expressive. The effort, timing, and precision make it clear that this is a craft, not just a product.

Wine, Culture, and Provençal Lifestyle

A trip to Château Minuty and Château d’Esclans is more than tasting wine; it’s a lesson in Provence’s geography, history, and gastronomy. You’ll enjoy local cuisine alongside the rosés, stroll among sunlit vineyards, and understand how careful viticulture has turned this region into a global reference for luxury rosé. Whether sipping Whispering Angel on a Saint-Tropez beach or discovering Garrus in an estate cellar, the wines here are inseparable from the landscape, lifestyle, and traditions of the region.

Provence’s small yet prestigious vineyards remind visitors that luxury can be crafted with patience, respect for the land, and attention to detail — and that some of the world’s most elegant rosés are born from such meticulous work.