We received a sample bottle of Hampton Water, a rosé wine crafted in Southern France. The rosé is the creation of Jesse Bongiovi, his father Jon Bon Jovi and Languedoc winemaker Gérard Bertrand. Although produced in Southern France, the rosé is called Hampton Water, a reflection of the amount of rosé wines consumed in the Hamptons. Possibly rosé outpaces water drunk in the Hamptons.

Summer may be over, but drinking a rosé wine is becoming a year-long trend. In November we are hosting a Holiday Wines Teach and Taste. One of the wines we will present for holiday fare is a rosé. The color is festive and the taste adds to rather than takes over many holiday dishes.

The Wine

The 2021 Hampton Water, Languedoc AOP offers a light salmon color. The blend is mostly Grenache (60%), with Cinsault (15%), Mourvedre (15%) and a splash of Syrah (10%). The aroma is fruity especially emphasizing red berry fruits with citrus notes. On the taste there is a background of minerality encasing strawberries, red raspberries, citrus and perhaps a hint of cranberries. The finish is crisp and lively. There is a long blend of fruit and mineral during the aftertaste. The wine is dry with 13% alcohol. 

At first thought, this wine would pair well with a rocking chair on a porch. However, the rosé is more versatile than just a summertime aperitif. It would match well with holiday fare including turkey, ham and a myriad of sides. To test these pairing ideas, we tasted the wine on rocking chairs on a back deck in late September. The wine was refreshing. One of our go to appetizers is baked brie. A block of brie is wrapped in Pillsbury crescents roll dough with honey dripped over the top. The brie is then baked until golden brown. The taste of the wine added to the taste of the baked brie and the wine’s acidity rebooted the palate.

A second pairing matched the Hampton Water with butternut squash soup. A butternut squash side always graces our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. The earth tones of the butternut squash soup were tamed by the fruitfulness of the wine. The wine’s minerality embraced the butternut squash’s earthiness.

We had some of the wine left over. Needless to say, it was a beautiful match for a pasta dish with a tomato-based sauce. 

Hampton Water retails for about $20. Not just a summer aperitif, this wine pairs well with autumn dishes and will match well with holiday cuisine. 

Cheers,
Terry