Chateau de Sours launches sparkling rosé

Bordeaux’s Chateau de Sours is launching a sparkling version of its renowned rosé, with plans to have it in the UK by December 2006.

Chateau de Sours is one of the few Bordeaux chateaux to be known primarily for its rosé wine. British owner Martin Krajewski increased production of the de Sours still rosé from 12,000 to 20,000 cases last year. He told decanter.com, ‘We have already pre-sold 18,000 of those for the 2006 vintage, while the fruit is still hanging on the vine.’

‘We’re a specialist producer of rosé, and this launch confirms the success of that strategy. It’s not a byproduct as it is for many in Bordeaux.’

Sebastian Lamothe, winemaker at Chateau de Sours, added, ‘Bordeaux clairet is traditionally run-off juice from the process of making red wine. But grapes that are perfectly mature for red wine can be lacking in freshness for a good rosé. We pick our grapes earlier when they are destined for rosé, keeping acidity levels lively. This is of course even more important for a sparkling wine.’

Krajewski produced 250 cases of the sparkling rosé in 2005, with plans for 2,500 for the current vintage. Talks are currently underway with a number of suppliers, thought to include Sainsbury’s and Majestic Wine Warehouse.

Written by Jane Anson