French Riviera Wine Tasting at Stem Wine Bar

There’s just something about the South of France that instantly puts you in vacation mode. Between the coastal wines, Mediterranean-inspired dishes, and stories of vineyards overlooking the sea, May’s French Riviera tasting at Stem Wine Bar felt like a quick escape to Provence without leaving Marietta.

This month, Paul led the tasting and did a fantastic job guiding us through the wines and regions of Southern France. Jules was fabulous as always, making everyone feel welcome and keeping the evening flowing smoothly. And Chef Dom absolutely crushed the food pairings this month. Honestly, this may have been one of my favorite food lineups we’ve had at Stem in a while.

From crisp Rolle and elegant rosés to earthy Mourvèdre and rich Banyuls, the evening highlighted the diversity of the French Riviera and neighboring Mediterranean regions.

A Quick Sip of the French Riviera Wine Region

When most people think of the French Riviera, they probably picture glamorous beaches, yachts in Saint-Tropez, and long sunny lunches overlooking the Mediterranean. But the region is also home to some incredible wines.

Provence is best known for rosé, but the region also produces refreshing whites and structured reds thanks to grapes like Rolle (Vermentino), Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. The warm Mediterranean climate, cooling sea breezes, and rocky soils help create wines with freshness, minerality, and vibrant fruit character.

This tasting also dipped into nearby Languedoc and Roussillon, regions known for bold GSM blends and sweet fortified wines like Banyuls.

Round 1: Coastal Whites & Mediterranean Freshness

Round one brought bright, refreshing white wines that immediately set the tone for the evening.

Figuière Méditerranée 2023 Rolle
Food Pairing: Oyster with citrus mignonette, pink peppercorn

• Smell & Taste: Bright and coastal, this Rolle showed lemon, white peach, fresh herbs, and wet-stone minerality, with crisp acidity and a saline finish.
• Winery Note: The Combard family has produced wines in Provence for more than 50 years. This stainless steel-fermented Rolle highlights the fresh, mineral-driven style of the Mediterranean coast.
• Pairing Highlight: The oyster’s briny freshness paired perfectly with the wine’s citrus and saline notes.

Château Routas Méditerranée 2023 Viognier & Chardonnay
Food Pairing: Spring onion & gruyère tart, caramelized spring onion, thyme, puff pastry

• Smell & Taste: This blend offered citrus, pear, pineapple, and orange blossom with subtle vanilla and a creamy texture balanced by bright acidity.
• Winery Note: Located in Provence’s Côteaux Varois region, Château Routas benefits from cooler nighttime temperatures that help preserve freshness and balance.
• Pairing Highlight: The buttery tart matched beautifully with the wine’s creamy texture and floral citrus notes.

Round 2: Rosé by the Sea & Bold Mediterranean Reds

Round two showcased Provence rosé alongside a bold GSM blend from Corbières.

Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel 2025 Rosé
Food Pairing: Tuna niçoise tartar, ahi tuna, olives, capers, haricot vert, quail egg

• Smell & Taste: This pale rosé delivered fresh strawberry, white peach, melon, citrus blossom, and minerality with a crisp, refreshing finish.
• Winery Note: Château d’Esclans helped launch the modern Provence rosé movement under Sacha Lichine. Whispering Angel remains one of the region’s most recognizable wines.
• Pairing Highlight: The bright acidity worked beautifully with the fresh tuna and briny olive flavors in the tartar.

Gérard Bertrand Corbières 2020 Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre
Food Pairing: Lamb loin, herb labneh, mint, lemon, charred eggplant

• Smell & Taste: This GSM blend showed dark plum, blackberry, cherry, mocha, and dried herbs with rich fruit and earthy spice.
• Winery Note: Gérard Bertrand is known for biodynamic winemaking throughout Southern France. Corbières produces bold Mediterranean reds with depth and structure.
• Pairing Highlight: The savory lamb and smoky eggplant complemented the wine’s earthy spice and dark fruit perfectly.

Round 3: Powerful Reds of Southern France

Domaine Bastide Blanche Bandol 2021 Mourvèdre
Food Pairing: Herb-roasted pork tenderloin, olive tapenade, rosemary jus, confit tomato

• Smell & Taste: This Mourvèdre offered blackberry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, and earthy spice with firm structure and layered depth.
• Winery Note: Domaine Bastide Blanche farms biodynamically in Bandol, a region famous for powerful Mourvèdre-based wines with excellent aging potential.
• Pairing Highlight: The rosemary jus and olive tapenade brought out the wine’s savory, earthy character beautifully.

M. Chapoutier Banyuls 2012 Grenache
Food Pairing: Dark chocolate tart, brandied cherry, olive oil, sea salt

• Smell & Taste: Rich and dessert-like, this Banyuls featured cherry compote, blackberry, dark chocolate, coffee, and sweet spice.
• Winery Note: Chapoutier’s Banyuls comes from steep Mediterranean vineyards in Southern France. The fortified Grenache style is known for pairing especially well with chocolate desserts.
• Pairing Highlight: The dark chocolate tart amplified the wine’s rich berry and cocoa notes without overwhelming the palate.

Bonus Round: Provence Favorites

The evening wrapped up with two bonus pours that highlighted the bold, sun-soaked character of Southern France and gave us one last sip of the Mediterranean before the night ended.

Château d’Esclans Côtes de Provence 2024 Grenache & Rolle

• Smell & Taste: This fuller-style rosé showed raspberry, fig, sour cherry, vanilla, and soft spice with added richness and texture.
• Winery Note: Chateau d’Esclans uses both stainless steel and barrel fermentation to create layered Provence rosés with freshness and complexity.

Château L’Hospitalet Le Clape 2021 Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre

• Smell & Taste: This bold GSM blend offered cherry, strawberry, smoked meat, olive, peppercorn, and Mediterranean herbs with savory depth.
• Winery Note: Located near the Mediterranean in La Clape, Chateau L’Hospitalet benefits from intense sunshine and coastal influence that help create concentrated, expressive wines.

My Favorites of the Night at the French Riviera Wine Tasting

With so many strong wines and pairings throughout the evening, narrowing down favorites wasn’t easy, but a few pours and dishes really stood out for me this month.

Favorite Wines

• Château Routas Méditerranée 2023 (Viognier & Chardonnay)
• Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel 2025 (Grenache, Cinsault & Rolle)
• Domaine Bastide Blanche Bandol 2021 (Mourvèdre)
• Château L’Hospitalet Le Clape 2021 (Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre)

Favorite Dishes

• Spring onion & gruyère tart
• Tuna niçoise tartar
• Herb-roasted pork tenderloin

Final Pour: French Riviera Wine Tasting

May’s French Riviera tasting felt like a Mediterranean getaway packed into a single evening. Between the crisp coastal whites, elegant rosés, bold reds, and Chef Dom’s standout pairings, this was one of the most balanced and enjoyable Stem tastings we’ve attended recently.

If you missed this one, definitely keep Stem’s future tastings on your radar. June’s theme is Australia, with tastings happening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

You can check out the upcoming tasting schedule here: Stem Wine Bar Events

And if you missed last month’s recap, you can read it here: Northern Italy Wine Tasting at Stem Wine Bar