National Rose Wine Day is the second Saturday of June each year. Celebrate with a semi-sweet sparkling French rose from the mountains of southern Jura.
The Bugey-Cerdon AOC
The Bugey region of eastern France gained AOC status in 2009 for the production of red, white, rose and sparkling wine. Within Bugey, there are 3 sub-appellations: Cerdon, Montagnieu, and Manicle.
The Cerdon sub-appellation is dedicated exclusively to making sparkling rose wines in the ancestrale method, the oldest method for creating bubbly wine where the wine is bottled before fermentation is complete and the carbon dioxide produced from fermentation in the bottle produces bubbles. No additional dosage or yeast is added.
The sparkling roses in this region are made from Gamay and Poulsard grapes. Due to the residual sugar in the fermentation process, the wines are noticeably sweet usually with floral notes and "grapey" qualities.
The sparkling wines are also low alcohol, hovering around 8% making them interminably drinkable at all hours of the day.
La Cuverie Bugey Cerdon "No Protection" Sparkling Rose
Started by a former radio journalist in England, La Cuverie produces roughly 10,000 bottles per year of organic Cerdon wines. After traveling around the world, Aurélien Beyeklian started the winery to return to his two loves: wine and the Rivermont region.
Their Bugey Cerdon sparkling wine is made from 95% Gamay and 5% Poulsard grapes. Whole grapes are fermented with indigenous yeasts. Tiny bubbles abound with fresh cranberry and rose petal notes with a deep blush hue. The retail price is $26.
Wine Pairing
Because these wines are lower in alcohol, they make an ideal companion with long weekend brunches, lazy Sundays, and pink themed celebrations.
I paired my bottle with an eggy French toast and strips of hot bacon. The bubbles and subtle sweetness contrasted so nicely with salty, fatty bacon. The lollipop flavor added some fruitiness to my plain French toast with a touch of maple syrup, so it didn't overpower the wine.
The Last Drop
When I heard there was a region dedicated exclusively to the production of semi-sweet sparkling rose wines, I just had to try them, and hope you do too!
Learn more about French roses from the #winophiles writers:
Wendy is sharing "Simple Green Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Vinaigrette paired with Gerard Bertrand Rose" at A Day in the Life on the Farm
Jeff is sharing "Surprising Rosés from the Loire Valley" at Food Wine Click
Gwendolyn is sharing "Organic Côtes du Rhône Rosé with Salmon Cakes, Squash Soup, Salad" and "From Luberon with Love: Four Organic Chateau de Sannes Rose Paired with Venison Bourguignon" at Wine Predator
Robin is sharing "The Joys of Tavel and a Salade Niçoise" at Crushed Grape Chronicles
Camilla is sharing "A Serious Rhône Rosé with a Nostalgic Fast Food Sandwich Reimagined" at Culinary Cam
Terri is sharing "Uncorking Adventure: The Ultimate Guide to Enjoying French Rose Wines While Camping" at Our Good Life
Wendy Klik says
What a fantastic way to start a day.....