Château Sainte Marguerite 2025

There are few rosé houses in Provence that manage to combine poise, pedigree and a genuine sense of place quite like Sainte Marguerite en Provence. Over lunch with Olivier Fayad at the Michelin‑starred Galvin La Chapelle, I tasted through the 2025 Rosé Collection, a set of wines that speak not only of a family’s deep stewardship of the land, but also of a region continuing to refine its global identity. Having met Olivier for the first time in 2024, when he introduced me to his 2023 vintage, I was excited to be back with him at this exclusive pre-launch event.

Walking into Galvin La Chapelle, I was immediately struck by the sense of calm the space creates. Set within a restored Victorian chapel near Spitalfields, the room feels both grand and intimate — the kind of place that naturally encourages you to slow down, settle in, and enjoy what’s about to unfold.

In the kitchen, head chef Joo Won oversees a menu that feels confident and quietly assured. The cooking is rooted in classical French technique but never feels heavy or overworked. Instead, each dish shows restraint and clarity, allowing the ingredients — and the season — to lead.

What I particularly appreciated was how the menu is structured. Whether choosing the tasting menu or selecting à la carte, the dishes feel designed with balance in mind. Nothing shouts for attention, and everything works beautifully together — especially when it comes to wine. It’s food that complements rather than competes, making Galvin La Chapelle a place where pairing feels natural, not forced.

By the time the first glass was poured, it was clear this is a restaurant that understands rhythm: measured, thoughtful, and entirely confident in its own style.

Olivier, the ever‑engaging ambassador of the estate, has the rare ability to discuss viticulture with precision while radiating the natural warmth that defines Provence. Over a series of glasses—and set against La Chapelle’s soaring arches and soft afternoon light—the range revealed itself with a quiet, unforced confidence.

The Estate: A Study in Purity and Precision

The story of Château Sainte Marguerite began in 1977 when Brigitte and Jean-Pierre Fayard bought a Côtes-de-Provence Cru classé property in La Londe terroir. Self-taught and determined, they recognised the potential of Provence's rosé wines and contributed to their reputation by demonstrating uncompromising rigour in producing rosé wines defined by their elegance and finesse. It’s also one of only eighteen remaining crus classes Cotes de Provence out of the original 23 that were classified in 1955. Today, the four children of the founding couple are involved in managing the estate and making the wines. In 2022, the Fayard family and the Pernod Ricard group will join forces to continue the development of Château Sainte Marguerite, both in France and abroad.

Sainte Marguerite has long championed organic farming, but in recent years their focus has sharpened even further. The shift is not towards stylistic novelty, but towards transparency—the idea that rosé can be refined, architectural, and textured, rather than simply pale and pleasant. The 2025 vintage embodies this philosophy with remarkable clarity: purity of fruit, salinity, and an almost architectural approach to freshness.

As Olivier explained, “Our job is not to impose flavour, but to protect it.”  This ethos runs through every glass.

This three-wine collection from Château Sainte Marguerite illustrates the breadth, precision and terroir-driven identity of modern Provence rosé. From immediate freshness to gastronomic depth and coastal salinity, each cuvée plays a distinct role while sharing a clear sense of place.

Symphonie Rosé 2025

Originally crafted in 1999, Symphonie Rosé is the most immediately expressive wine (50% Grenache, 45% Cinsault, 5% Rolle) in the range, designed to lead with freshness, clarity of fruit and effortless drinkability.   Olivier explained “This vintage reflects all the diversity of our terroirs between land and sea. It reveals the purity of the fruit for a wine that expresses both freshness and balance”.

Pale salmon pink in colour. The nose is vibrant and inviting, showing floral and delicate aromas of peach and citrus zest. On the palate, the wine is crisp and clean, with bright red berry fruit balanced by zesty acidity and a light, refreshing finish. The texture is smooth and easy, making it an ideal aperitif-style rosé.

Perfect on its own, or paired with salads, grilled vegetables, seafood platters and light Mediterranean dishes.  Enjoyed at Galvin’s with La Perle Noire Oyster, Guanciale, Finger Lime, Landes Foie Gras on Toast, Moroccan Spices, Pear Chutney Brick Pastry Sandwich, Truffled Ricotta, Honey.  Followed by Cured Yellow Tail, Bergamot, Pickled Chanterelles.

Fantastique Rosé 2025

First created in 1997, Fantastique Rosé is more restrained and structured, made using only first-press juice (45% Grenache, 45% Cinsault, 10% Rolle) from grapes grown on the old vines of Chateau Sainte Marguerite. It prioritises texture, finesse and gastronomic versatility over overt fruit and embodies the House’s pursuit of excellence.

Very pale in colour. The nose is subtle and refined, offering citrus peel, white peach and delicate pear notes. On the palate, there is greater weight and shape than Symphonie, with pink grapefruit, red berries and a layered mouthfeel. Fresh and coastal in character, it finishes long and precise.

Designed for the table and fine dining. Excellent with seafood, lightly spiced dishes, grilled fish, and elegant vegetable-led plates.  For our lunch it was paired with Grass Fed Beef, Roscoff Onion, Charlotte Potato, Seaweed Tartare.

Marguerites En Provence Rosé 2025

Marguerite Rosé is part of an exclusive collection of three exceptional cuvees with an avant-garde signature.  Created in 2025, it’s the most terroir-driven wine in the line-up, sourced from vineyards close to the sea in the La Londe AOC (60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 20% Rolle).   It expresses minerality, tension and a distinctly maritime character.  Olivier explained “We wanted to make high quality wines, without constraints or concessions, in order to enrich the tasting experience.  This vision comes with a price: that of rarity”, in face only 15,000 bottles produced each year.

Exceptionally pale in appearance. Aromatically refined, with pear, white, flowers, white peach and exotic fruit notes. The palate is elegant and precise, almost white-wine-like in profile, with fine fruit, mineral tension and a pronounced saline finish that lingers.

Outstanding with seafood, oysters, shellfish and refined summer cuisine. Also compelling on its own for those who enjoy saline, mineral styles.  During lunch it was the perfect partner for our dessert, Yorkshire Rhubarb Tart, Kaffir Lime, Tonka Ice Cream.

I was keen to understand where the names came from and Olivier was delighted to explain that “Symphonie, is all about harmony, the coming together of the grape varieties, terroir and freshness into a balanced whole.  Nothing dominates; instead, each element plays its part, much like instruments in an orchestra, hence the name Symphonie”.  Fantastique, on the other hand, is “named for its surprise. When I ask people what they think they simply say ‘Fantastique’ so there you have the name”.  Olivier sees it as a wine that breaks expectation: a rosé that behaves like a white wine on the nose, showing pear, Rolle lift and exotic notes, before finishing with a distinctly saline edge.  It’s that contrast- delicacy paired with complexity – that led him to call it Fantastique.

Sainte Marguerite wines can be purchased in the UK from The Rosé Wine Collection, VINATIS, Corking Wines and Strictly Wine.

And for those of you who want to enjoy these wines in London, Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched the 2025 rosé collection from Château Sainte Marguerite, unveiled in partnership with Galvin La Chapelle. The new vintage will officially debut on 21 March 2026, marking the beginning of spring.

As part of this exciting collaboration, Symphonie and Fantastique—two of the estate’s flagship cuvées—will be available across Galvin La Chapelle and Galvin Bistrot.

This spring also sees the introduction of a dedicated Château Sainte Marguerite terrace at Galvin Bistrot, where guests will be able to enjoy the wines throughout the summer in one of London’s brightest al fresco settings.

The partnership will feature a series of seasonal activations, including a Provence-themed event on 12 June, followed by further summer experiences celebrating the estate, the region, and the new vintage.

Château Sainte-Marguerite | Cru Classé Côtes de Provence

Buy Symphonie Rosé 2025 - Château Sainte Marguerite

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