They’re both from Provence, family-oriented and passionate about wine: the Pernod Ricard and Sainte Marguerite en Provence alliance was written in the stars.
A few days ago in Paris, we celebrated their recent union at the Sky Bar on the top floor of Pernod Ricard’s new HQ, The Island, in the centre of Paris. It was a cold night, but the lure of a panoramic terrace overlooking the roofs of Paris, the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré Coeur was too romantic to resist.
Plus, most of the action was happening indoors during a chic cocktail dînatoire, guests were treated to a degustation of their premium rosés, including the aptly named Fantastique, which proved the perfect match for the oysters, fish tartare and seared tuna canapes on offer – a delightful provençal nibbles menu.
Sainte Marguerite en Provence is the bottled story of an aspirational family of entrepreneurial farmers who discovered the exceptional coastal terroir of La Londe-Les-Maures, Provence, back in 1977. They learnt, more or less from scratch, to make wine – not any wine: rosés of the finest quality. Brigitte and Jean-Pierre Fayard never looked back and have devoted themselves entirely to their passion for 46 years.
“My father fell completely in love with the Sainte Marguerite estate. Our family acquired seven hectares of vines, only three of which produced wine. Self-taught, committed and determined, they restored the traditional farmhouse. The four of us grew up among the vines, and we’re all,” explains Enzo, Sainte Marguerite’s winemaker with his brother Olivier – two of the four Fayard siblings who grew up on the estate and still contribute today (Sigolène oversees management control and legal matters, while Lionel designed the bottles and labels).
Today, the vineyard encompasses nearly 200 hectares in the Côtes-de-Provence AOC.
The parcels overlook the three islands known as the Iles d’Or, which gives the wine a subtle saline quality.
Spread out across a diversity of terroirs; each parcel has unique specificities in terms of soil, climate and exposure, which means each grape variety has a different expression, offering a full palette of aromas.
Their Cuvée Symphonie Rosé 2022, named Maison Sainte Marguerite: harmony, is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Vermentino. It displays a strong savoir-faire, with a balanced composition – all finesse, fresh and complex aromatic notes.
The other Cuvée, Fantastique Rosé 2022, Château Sainte Marguerite Cru Classé, is balanced, structured and precise. Certified organic and vegan – this fine rosé wine is blended from Grenache, Cinsault and Vermentino grapes from the best parcels in the Château.
The eco-conscious Fayard family joined forces with Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest producer of wines and spirits, this year to continue to develop Sainte Marguerite en Provence, both in France and internationally.
“We are excited about this new chapter for both our families,” said Alexandre Ricard, CEO of Pernod Ricard.
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