Wölffer Estate Vineyard returns to the birthplace of rosé, Provence, to produce its latest necessity for a social summer.
Joey Wölffer in Provence
Ask Joey Wölffer to describe the perfect summer day, and her answer is as simple as a languid breeze. She mentions an afternoon at her family’s legendary Wine Stand, which the entrepreneur and New York native runs with her brother, Marc, along with The Tasting Room and Wölffer Estate Stables, all located on the 170-acre estate in the Hamptons. She’d follow up with a barbecue at her house with family and friends as the golden hour paints a quintessential beach tableau.
“Served with rosé, of course,” adds Joey, the chief brand officer and co-owner, along with Marc, of Wölffer Estate Vineyard. Joey’s husband, Max Rohn, serves as CEO, and the talented Roman Roth leads the winemaking.
The brand has produced fabulously famous rosé for decades, and, for summer celebrations this year, it recently introduced Summer in a Bottle Côtes de Provence—a distinctly unique bottle that represents another milestone in the vineyard’s evolution.
The new release is sure to become a staple for summer outings
“Our goal was to make a high-quality rosé in the heart of Provence by absolutely avoiding any unnecessary transportation and moving, or pumping of our juice or wine,” says Marc. “[We didn’t want] a bulk wine or négociant rosé, but a wine that’s grown, made and bottled all in one place—with the potential to craft future vintages. After searching for more than a year, we found the perfect grower and winery that fits our exact criteria.”
Summer in a Bottle Côtes de Provence reveals intricate citrus and floral notes.
The Wölffer team took several trips to Provence over the course of two years and eventually chose to work with Guillaume de Chevron Villette, an 11th-generation vintner. “He has pioneered implementing organic and sustainable farming practices and strives for perfect harmony between man and the land,” says Roth. “It was important to us to find a conscientious grower who, like Wölffer Estate Vineyard, is a good steward of the land and has the passion to look at growing grapes with a longtime perspective.”
The new Summer in a Bottle Côtes de Provence is grown, made and bottled in southeastern France.
Roth says another goal was to make a rosé that stands out amid a sea of exceptional blends. It began with grapes that are rosé classics—grenache, cinsault, syrah and vermentino, a white grape. The nose includes tangerine, citrus, peach and lovely floral notes. “[Expect] a long, elegant finish with classic salinity, polished minerality, wonderful skin characters, fine yeast notes and lovely acidity,” says Roth. “This rosé is pure and refreshing with great esprit and a wonderful structure and texture, making it a joy to drink and amazingly versatile to be paired with food.”
The new bottle also answers a question about legacy and where Wölffer Estate is headed. “We stayed true to both regions—which isn’t easily done—respectfully taking the best qualities from both the Hamptons style and St-Tropez,” says Joey. “It’s the perfect destination wine.” And, equally important, it’s a wine that never allows anyone to forget the season.
Joey Wölffer, Roman Roth, Marc Wölffer and Max Rohn
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF WÖLFFER ESTATE VINEYARD
