View Life through Rosé Coloured Glasses at Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar

It is said that things look more positive when viewed through rose-coloured glasses. Joshua Carlson, Wine Director at Yaletown’s Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar could not agree more, with one slight amendment – he looks through rosé-tinted glasses – make that wine glasses.

This June Carlson, along with Provence/TWB owner and Executive Chef Jean-Francis Quaglia, is set to launch a very rosy wine program featuring 41 different rosés gathered from BC, California, Germany, Spain, France and England. Yes, you read that right – England. Six will be available only by the bottle while all the others will be available by the glass, bringing Provence/TWB’s wine-by-the-glass offerings up to an astounding 240 – the largest in North America.

Many of the rosés on the list, such as the Seven Directions Cabernet Franc (BC), Dirty Laundry ‘Hush’ Rosé, Mission Hill Family Estate Rosé(BC), or Miraval (France) will already be familiar to Vancourites.

However, the list includes many special order rosés that Carlson has brought in as a result of his visits earlier this year to VINISud and VinsFIAin France. “As a ‘wine geek’, it was like letting a kid loose in the candy store to attend these wine fairs. I figured I would be able to fill two pallets (112 cases of wine) which would be exclusive to us. What excites me?- Clos Cibonne ‘Cuvee Prestige Caroline’ Tibouren Rosé from Provence, it is barrel aged in a 1000L Foudre and slightly oxidized as it has a veil of yeast called ‘Flor’ covering the wine during fermentation. Very cool, very geeky. Bastide de la Ciselette, Lou Pigna, Bandol Rosé, rated 94 points in Wine Spectator, this will also be exclusive to Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar. We committed to the whole 30 cases. From Spain I picked up Hacienda di Arinzano 100% Tempranillo and Aroa Larrosa a Garnacha and Tempranillo blend, an interesting coastal expression for Spain and not as extracted as the Hacienda di Arinzano with some light berry notes, citrus and a faint whiff of sea air. I discovered Tomeresca Calafuria from Sicily – it’s 100 percent Negroamaro.”

Both Carlson and Chef Quaglia are delighted by Germany’s Reichsrat von Buhl Spatburgunder Rosé Trocken – from the wine maker of Bollinger. Carlson describes it as “funky and weird. It is delicious with our Mussels – great for our cuisine.”

A surprise find in the collection is sparkler Coates & Seeley Rosé NVfrom North Hampshire Downs, England. In fact 13 of the rosés are sparkling wines including six Champagnes, two Lambruscos, two Crémants plus Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose NV (Calistoga, California) and BC’s own Joie Farm Plein de Vie 2016 (Naramata).

Tempted? Join Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar when the entire collection is unveiled with a special ‘Rosé all Day’ offer – Sunday Funday will see all rosés discounted by 25 percent (glass, bottle and magnum) all day every Sunday starting in June throughout the rest of the year. This summer your world will take on a rosy glow as you #drinkpink at Provence Marinaside and TWB-The Wine Bar.