The affair did not just begin that evening in Tavel. It had been a budding rosé affair for awhile. Throughout this Spaswinefood affair there was one special dinner, at the end of an October day in 2014, that left a lasting impression. Over dinner at Auberge de Tavel we were introduced to wines, which we did not get the opportunity to taste earlier during our tour of Tavel wineries.
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| Dinner in Tavel © Spaswinefood |
That evening seated with the wine bloggers were winemakers and other members of Tavel's wine making industry. It is always a delight to get to know those involved in wine making. |
| Tavel Wine Conversations © Spaswinefood |
Wine Conversations over Dinner Over the course of the evening we had the opportunity to taste Tavel wines. In this post will use photos mixed with text, Spaswinefood's typical photo journalistic style, to share the wines we tasted over dinner.
Let's start first with a Hrieuré de Montézarques, La Crosse Rosé. |
| Hrieuré de Montézarques, La Crosse Rosé Tavel AOC 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Hrieuré de Montézarques, La Crosse Rosé Tavel AOC 2013 © © Spaswinefood |
Dinner began with an amuse bouche.  |
| Amuse Bouche, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
Next wine was a Domaine des Carabiniers Rosé. |
| Domaine des Carabiniers, Rosé Tavel AOC © Spaswinefood |
The second course was a soup. |
| Vegetarian Soup, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
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| Soup, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
Dining with wine conversations with our hosts we tasted a Domaine Florence Mejan, Canto Perdrix Rosé 2013. |
| Tavel Conversations © Spaswinefood |
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| Domaine Florence Mejan, Canto Perdrix Rosé Tavel 2013 © Spaswinefood |
The main course choices included three options: |
| Meat Dish, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
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| Chicken Dish, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
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| Vegetarian Dish, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
For the main course our choices included the vegetarian and meat options.
Amongst the other rosé wines that we tasted that evening included a Les Vignerons de Tavel, Cuvée Royal Rosé, Domaine La Rochliere, Perle de Culture Rosé and Domaine La Rochliere Rosé.  |
| Domaine La Rochliere, Perle de Culture Rosé, Tavel AOC © Spaswinefood |
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| Les Vignerons de Tavel, Cuvée Royal Rosé Tavel AOC 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Domaine La Rochliere, Rosé Tavel AOC © Spaswinefood |
The main plate was followed by a cheese plate. |
| Cheese Plate, Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
After the cheese plate we just had to pass on the dessert list. To say the least it was a fabulous evening. It was a perfect rosé wine lover affair. Throughout the evening, not only did we get the opportunity to interact with our host but, with fellow wine bloggers.  |
| Tavel Rosé Conversations © Spaswinefood |
After delightful wine conversations we retreated to rest for the next day. While in Tavel we dined and stayed at the Auberge de Tavel. For an excellent description of this wine region see Ellen Kayle's New York Times article. The article also offers great advice on where to dine and stay in Tavel. |
| Good Night from Tavel © Spaswinefood |
Next morning after breakfast we left Tavel for the next stop on our tour, Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Châteauneuf-du-Pape's AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), one of the oldest French appellations located in the Southern Rhône Valley, is just east of the Rhône River and north of Avignon.  |
| Leaving L'Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
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| Auberge de Tavel © Spaswinefood |
During our Tavel tour we discovered what is so special about the rosé wines from Tavel's AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). Tavel is one of the best French appellations for rosé wines. The area around Tavel is known for their high quality rosé wines. Tavel rosés are described as drier; with more body and structure than most rosé wines. It is this full flavored, dry but also fruitiness that make these wines so special. While most rosés should be drunk young Tavel's rosés are one of the few rosés that can be aged. |
| Tavel Vineyards in October, 2014 © Spaswinefood |
While French rosé wines have always been popular in France internationally rosé wines have not always had a good reputation. In recent years however, if you have tasted rosé wines chances are that you have discovered some amazing rosés. For those of us preferring dry rosés Tavel rosé wines are absolutely perfect. Both the improvement in the overall quality and the diversity of rosé wines from Tavel means there is wider range of options. Tavel is indeed the perfect place to see why these rosé wines are so special. My Rosé Wine Affair has continued in France and elsewhere. I invite you to join me in my wine travels in France and elsewhere at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon, and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook. I am so looking forward to sharing more on my vine-inspired explorations.
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