Patio weather has us craving crisp, refreshing wines, like this well-priced dry rosé from Southern France's Pays d'Oc wine region. It's made by Chateau de Caraguilhes, a producer long known for its commitment to organic farming in the Languedoc-Roussillon's Corbières AOC. The 2018 Cochon Volant (which means flying pig) is the first vintage to bear the organic certification.
Made with 60% grenache and 40% cinsault grown in chalky, limestone soil, the wine entices with strawberry and floral aromas. Round yet delicate on the palate, it shows fresh red fruit and white peach flavors, with mineral notes in the dry finish. It has just enough structure and acidity to pair with goat cheeses, grilled fish, pork tenderloin and pasta with cherry tomatoes. It's also an easy-drinking aperitif, ideal for warm weather and poolside sipping.
The Pays D'Oc IGP is a large regional classification for wines produced in the Languedoc-Roussillon region that don't conform to the strict AOC rules governing their geographic sub-regions. The IGP gives winemakers the freedom to experiment with grape blends and source grapes from outside the local AOC boundaries. This flexibility also makes it easier for producers to create a consistent flavor profile from year to year.
Cochon Volant Rosé is a great value, selling for about $13.99 at Sigel's, Royal Blue Grocery, Monticello Liquor, Scardello Artisan Cheese and Le Caveau.
Tina Danze is a Dallas freelance writer.