Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines (DC&E) has added a collection of rosés from Provence to its prestigious portfolio of imports for the American market. DC&E has been granted exclusive U.S. importing rights to Château Minuty rosés. Regarded as the top producer of Côtes de Provence rosé in the Côte d’Azur region, Château Minuty has been owned and run by the Matton-Farnet family since 1930.
Overlooking the Bay of St. Tropez, the vineyards of Château Minuty are situated on the slopes of the villages of Gassin and Ramatuelle. Château Minuty is one of the last family-owned estates in the Côtes de Provence region to exclusively hand harvest in order to ensure the grapes are intact and undamaged when they arrive at the cellars. These wines can be found and enjoyed at the best restaurants around the world.
The addition of Château Minuty is part of DC&E’s strategy to seek out and add best-in-class wines from the most important wine regions throughout the world. This is DC&E’s first foray into the booming category of rosé. According to Nielsen, U.S. sales of non-sparkling rosé wine grew 25 percent last year and are continuing to grow.
“As a category, rosé shows no signs of slowing and we’re excited to be able to work with the Matton-Farnet family to bring the top Provencal rosé in Europe and the Caribbean to wine lovers in the U.S.,” said Claudia Schubert, President, DC&E Wines.
“Château Minuty is honored to join the prestigious DC&E portfolio of top Burgundy, Spanish and South American estates. Our partnership with DC&E will allow Château Minuty rosés to be enjoyed in the best restaurants in all 50 states,” said Francois Matton, owner of Château Minuty.
DC&E will begin by importing three Château Minuty rosés: Prestige rosé 2013, M de Minuty rosé 2013, and rose et Or 2013. Prestige rosé is comprised of 90 percent Grenache and 10 percent Tibouren grape varieties; M de Minuty rosé is 50 percent Grenache, 15 percent Tibouren and 35 percent Cinsault; and rose et Or is 95 percent Grenache and five percent Syrah. Suggested retail price for Prestige rosé will be about $30/bottle, M de Minuty rosé about $20/bottle, and rose et Or about $60/bottle. The wines are available now in fine restaurants and top retailers nationally.
