MONTECITO, CA – Like many of you the Provençal Collective team is looking forward to 2021 with hope and anticipation that all things everywhere will get back to normal for everyone.
While 2020 will be a year to forget for most of us it appears that the 2020 vintage coming out of the southern Rhône region was quite good – maybe unforgettable.
Despite the pandemic Provençal Collective’s organic wine suppliers – Domaine du Tix, Domaine Vintur and Vignoble Art Mas – continue to earn recognition and enjoy accolades from major wine experts like Wine Enthusiast magazine.
The Art Mas Outrage 2018 earned 89 points from Wine Enthusiast and was featured in the November 2020 Buyer Guide – a first for a 100% bourboulenc wine! In addition, Domaine Vintur’s Séléne 2017 won the Gold Medal at the 2020 World Organic Wine Fair held in Montpellier, France earlier this year. And 2020 produced Domaine du Tix’ first “Pet Nat” Des Bulles au Cerveau – a 100% cinsault natural sparkling wine, not only known for its quality, but it’s interesting label, too.
On a personal note, LeeAnn and I have been remodeling our home in Le Barroux in the Vaucluse – from here in Montecito! We bought our house in September 2019 and just as the remodeling got underway in January the pandemic struck. We haven’t been able since to go back to France since. But we have been able to keep the project going – lots of video, pictures and conference calls. It is expected to be completed in January 2021.
And maybe even more rewarding – we were able to finally open a bank account in France – a process that took only 13 months to complete. I think that there’s a book in there somewhere.
But, for now, we hope to continue to grow our import business and serve the special organic wine niche that we believe will continue to grow in the United States in the year ahead.
To those of you who continue to enjoy our wines thank you! And, to those who haven’t yet, we hope you will soon.
Here’s to a healthy and prosperous 2021. À ta santé!
Frank Caterinicchio
frank@provençalcollective.com
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