Rosé Tasting with Author Jamie Ivey

Details
Photos

Daily

Departure date (d/m)

Lourmarin, Luberon

Location

15 years ago Jamie Ivey was working as a lawyer in London when he came up with the idea for an extra-ordinary book – Extremely Pale Rosé, The Hunt for the Palest Rosé in France. A wine loving literary agent thought the idea had longer legs than a vintage burgundy. Jamie and his wife quit their jobs and headed into the unknown. The subsequent book went on to win the Gourmand Award Book of the Year on French wine and to be published worldwide including, American, Australian, Chinese, Polish, and Dutch editions. Peter Mayle, the Author of a Year in Provence kindly commented “At last a man who takes his rosé seriously enough to write a delightful book about it.”

The success of Extremely Pale Rosé, has even been linked to the booming world wide market for pale rosé. Writing in the UK political magazine in 2019, The Spectator, author Rupert Wright bemoaned the lack of darker rosés on the market: “The rot set in about ten years ago when an Englishman called James Ivey wrote a book called Extremely Pale Rosé about a quest to find the palest rosé in Provence. It was a good enough joke, but unfortunately it was taken seriously. Soon, from Sloane Square to Pampelonne Beach, ladies who lunch could be heard repeating the mantra ‘I want the palest rosé you have.’”

After Extremely Pale Rosé Jamie went on to write two more books on pink wine, one on truffles and a Guide Book on Provence. If you love rosé and you love Provence then a private wine tasting with Jamie, is an unforgettable experience.

Prices for private tastings start from €300 for groups of 4, and then €25 for each additional person. The tastings either take place in the wine shop located in the caves underneath the Chateau de Lourmarin or can be organised in private villas.

Wine tastings last around an hour during which you will:
Enjoy 4 different glasses of Provencal rosé
Find out how to taste rosé.
Find out how rosé is made.
Find out how to choose your holiday rosé.
Discover the history of the rosé revolution.
Round-off your tasting with a Provencal travel clinic.

Maureen : “I highly recommend Jamie’s wine tasting. He is very knowledgeable about Provence Rose history and trends. It was a perfect break on a sunny day at the market – we ducked into a cool cave room in a historic Chateau and tasted a few wine and chatted. This is not super serious, you do not need to know a lot about wine and it worked for all three generations in our group.

Adi : “We just had the most magical day with Jamie in Lourmarin. Starting with a coffee and a chat, we heard the insiders secrets of the markets which was both interesting and humorous. We then strolled through the markets seeing things in a totally different way and it really made sense then. We had a colourful visit to the Chateau Lourmarin who’s history was totally fantastic mesmerizing followed by the most magical rose tasting in the sunshine on the Chateau terrace learning all about the Rose of Provence & France. Jamie is well informed ( due to his books on the subjects ) and delivers his knowledge through the most humorous of ways. It was an excellent day, truly captivating Provence life and everyone is raving about it. Thank you Provence Guru for a day to remember.”