As soon as the cherry blossoms begin to snow their petals onto fresh green grass, the itch to ditch kicks in, and somehow you find yourself playing hooky on a gorgeous Friday afternoon, a glass of rosé having mysteriously appeared in your hand. Just me? Well, however and wherever you choose to imbibe this spring, these French white, rosé, and sparkling wines are sure to suit the occasion.
8 Perfect Park Picnic Wines from France
1. Roseblood d’Estoublon
The Château d’Estoublon, a project of the French pop icon Carla Bruni, managed to produce an excellent 2024 vintage of their Roseblood rosé, despite a challenging year. This blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah, Cinsault, Semillon, and Rolle is vibrant on the nose and the tongue, with floral notes that evoke the Alpilles in Provence where the wine is made, and a mineral backbone that nods to the nearby Mediterranean Sea. Flavors of red berries and citrus make this wine refined, yet zippy enough to have you coming back for a second glass.
2. Telmont Réserve Brut
Champagnes made across seven different years are blended to create the Réserve Brut from Champagne Telmont. The result is an elegant wine with flavors and aromas reminiscent of a pear frangipane tart, balancing the richness of baked goods with the fresh and floral touch of lime zest.
3. Hubert Brochard Château de Thauvenay Sancerre
This 2023 vintage is a beautiful expression of the Loire Valley’s commitment to sustainable farming, coming from a High Environmental Value vineyard, so you can enjoy without guilt. The perfect combination of structure and freshness has tropical aromas and a refined acidity, countered by a touch of salt and stone. Enjoy this Sancerre from Hubert Brochard with some grilled freshwater fish like the kind found in the Loire Valley not far from the Château de Thauvenay where this wine is produced.
4. 90+ Cellars Côtes de Provence Rosé
This Côtes de Provence Rosé takes advantage of the cooler climates in the South of France to create a crisp, mineral rosé with notes of red fruit, white peach, and floral citrus. Produced in Le Haut Var with Cinsault and Grenache grapes, this crowd-pleaser makes for an ideal poolside apéro before a seafood-forward dinner.
5. Souleil Vin de Bonté Blanc
Souleil Vin de Bonté makes excellent, crushable wines from the Languedoc region in the South of France, whose terroir lends them a mouthwatering acidity and saline finish. Their 2024 Blanc is a zippy Picpoul with just a touch of Ugni Blanc, citrusy and herbaceous, the ideal pairing for freshly shucked oysters and a big basket of boardwalk fries.
6. Château Gassier le Pas du Moine Rosé
The Pas du Moine Rosé from Château Gassier is a particular favorite for warm weather hosting. With aromas of raspberry and passionfruit, and juicy peach and redcurrant notes, the elegant flavors of this wine will linger on your tongue long after the bottle is finished. This is an ideal apéritif for pretending you’re enjoying a sunset on a terrace in Provence, in the shadow of the Sainte-Victoire mountain where this wine is produced.
7. Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut
The Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut is a multi-vintage champagne from this celebrated champagne house, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir. Stone fruit and orange blossom on the nose give way to nutty brioche flavors, with a hint of mint at the end. This fresh and sophisticated cuvée would make an excellent pairing for a cheese plate (with Comté, of course) or the crispy summer treat of fried zucchini blossoms, a favorite of the city of Cannes.
8. Studio by Miraval
Those familiar with the popular wine brand Miraval, helmed by Brad Pitt and the renowned Perrin family, will be excited to discover this new product from the Provençal vineyard. Studio by Miraval, named for the estate’s recording studio (where Pink Floyd recorded “The Wall”), is a refreshing wine with notes of blood orange and red currant, with a touch of salinity and beautiful cherry blossom aromas.
Catherine Rickman is a writer, professional Francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Stories podcast. She is currently somewhere in Brooklyn with a fork in one hand and a pen in the other, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.