The Provence pink powerhouse is teaming with one of the top grower Champagne producers. Plus, behind the scenes of the new Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition-themed Oscars bottle
When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated nearly four years ago, rosé observers wondered what would become of their Côtes de Provence estate, Château Miraval. At very least, it would likely be stuck in custody limbo while terms of the divorce dragged on, wrote the skeptics.
Instead, things have been busier than ever, with the co-owning Perrin family of the Rhône’s Château de Beaucastel propping up Miraval through the difficult split of its other parents. Last year, we reported that Miraval had unveiled a shiny new top-of-the-line cellar and released a new (record-breaking) prestige rosé cuvée, Muse de Miraval, from the vineyard’s best and oldest parcels. Now, winemaker Marc Perrin tells us a Miraval Champagne is next.
“We are working very hard on that right now with Rodolphe Péters, from Pierre Péters,” Perrin told us. One of Champagne’s hottest grower-producers, Péters has made a splash with his unusual rosé-making technique, blending a saignée of Pinot Meunier with Chardonnay—though no word yet on the style of the Miraval Champagne. “We will create the only Champagne house which only makes rosé,” said Perrin. “We are going to try to push the quality of rosé as far as possible in Champagne.” We’re feeling confident Miraval’s new marriage of talents can make it work.