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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.

Cupid may have his arrows, but I’ve always preferred a well‑aimed cork. This Valentine’s Day, forget the clichés and reach for something that actually makes your heart beat faster — great wine. From South African sparkle to French finesse and Rioja romance, here’s your cheat sheet to bottles guaranteed to impress. Flowers fade… but good wine is forever.

Rosé has long since shrugged off its poolside stereotype, and nowhere was that more evident than at a Château d’Esclans lunch at The Fat Badger, Notting Hill — a setting that felt deliberately understated, allowing both food and wine to speak with clarity.

The lineup told a precise story of ambition and evolution: Les Clans 2022, Garrus 2022, and Château d’Esclans 2022 — three expressions that firmly position Provençal rosé in the world of serious, gastronomic wine.

Château d’Esclans: redefining rosé’s ceiling

January is often a month of reset — lighter meals, fewer indulgences and, for many, a pause on alcohol. But Try January doesn’t have to mean missing out altogether. It can also be about being more thoughtful: drinking less, but better. And what better moment to raise a considered glass than Australia Day?

The Negroni is often described as a drink of absolutes. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth; stirred, never shaken; garnished with orange. Yet beneath its rigid structure lies extraordinary flexibility. Change one ingredient — particularly the vermouth — and the drink’s personality shifts entirely.

The festive season invites a certain grandeur—moments when the table gleams a little brighter, the conversation stretches a little longer, and the wines deserve to be every bit as memorable as the occasion itself. This year’s selection brings together bottles of genuine distinction: wines shaped by exceptional vintages, meticulous craftsmanship, and the quiet confidence that comes only from producers at the top of their game.

When Heather Bradshaw talks about Washington State, her eyes light up with the conviction of someone who has watched a region rise from quiet potential to global significance. A former broadcast journalist, she began her career in the small agricultural town of Yakima — “the heart of wine country,” she recalls — where viticulture was not yet an international talking point but an emerging dream.

Introduction

If you’re a food lover looking to elevate your dining experience, look no further than D.O. Cava—Spain’s iconic sparkling wine crafted using the traditional method. Born under the Mediterranean sun, Cava combines freshness, complexity, and elegance, making it one of the most versatile wines in the world.

The alcohol-free sparkling wine category has exploded in recent years, attracting everyone from health-conscious millennials to Michelin-starred sommeliers. Among the names making waves is French Bloom, a brand with undeniable pedigree. Founded by Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger and linked to a Champagne house, French Bloom promised glamour and refinement in a space often dismissed as bland. The branding is chic, the bottles look the part, and the price tag reflects its luxury positioning.