On his 55-hectare vineyard in the heart of Provence, Prince Félix of Luxembourg produces 350,000 bottles of wine a year. Eighty percent of these are rosé.
It is the poor relation of the wine world, and yet, on sunny summer days, it’s the wine to have in your glass. Whether at a barbecue with friends, on a deckchair by the sea or on the terrace of a café: A glass of rosé is synonymous with sunny days, lazy days and fun days. And when it comes to pink wine, Provence rosés are among the best. Yet, self-proclaimed connoisseurs often dismiss rosé wine as not “noble” enough. An opinion that one man from Luxembourg has been successfully proving wrong for a number of years now.
For him, all the characteristics of rosé wine that are so often criticised are, in fact, advantages. Easy to drink? Lively? A wine to enjoy with family and friends? In short: an unpretentious wine. This man is none other than Prince Félix of Luxembourg. For several years now, he has been turning his hand to the vines on his estate in Provence, to produce a high-quality rosé wine.
His vineyard is Château Les Crostes, in Lorgues, north of Saint-Tropez. A gift from the family that he wants to see prosper. “When we got the château from my wife’s father, I instantly knew that I wanted to become a winemaker,” he explains. “I’m an entrepreneur by nature and I believe it’s important to take care of what you have. It’s an absolute joy and honour to own such a beautiful estate.”
Built in the 17th century by the Count of Ramatuelle, Château Les Crostes is set in 220 hectares of grounds. A magnificent residence that Prince Félix and his wife, Princess Claire, open to the public: You can even stay in the château or hire it out for private events.
It is eight years ago now since Prince Félix first decided to become a winemaker, “with a lot of help from our oenologist Ted Garin, who has taught me so much.” His 55 hectares of vines now produce predominantly rosé wines (80% of production), but also some whites and reds.
His biggest challenge? Maintaining the same quality year on year. “Unlike red and white wines (where consumers like to see changes over the vintages) consumers do not expect to see much variation when it comes to rosés. It’s therefore important to be meticulous when it comes to blending. There are a lot of different factors to consider.”
The prince seems to have achieved his goal: “I think that the rosé I produce today is my favourite rosé. Because for me, a good rosé is a balanced wine that is easy to drink — light, dry and fruity. An upbeat wine that you want to share with family and friends and that makes you want to open another bottle as soon as you’ve finished one,” he says. His Amalia 2021 and Château Les Crostes ‘Prestige’ 2022 are sold in Luxembourg. The noble rosé choice!
