Esprit de Cote des Roses: A Festive Sparkling Rosé for Every Course

Cote des Roses, recognized as one of the most popular rosé wines in Quebec, and perhaps in the world, has just launched its sparkling version: Esprit de Cote des Roses. This wine stands out for its refined flavour profile, affordable price and versatility when it comes to food and wine pairings. To mark the launch of this new product, we put together a platter inspired by Tableaux Paris, which collaborated with Gérard Bertrand, the producer behind Cote des Roses, to design food and wine pairings for a full meal.

My history with Cote des Roses and Gérard Bertrand

I’ve known this wine for several years now, and my in-depth knowledge comes from my friendship with Nicolas Galy, who served as Gérard Bertrand’s North American ambassador until 2023. He recently launched his own line of non-alcoholic apéritifs, Pecette. Rosé wines are a major strength for Gérard Bertrand, particularly with Cote des Roses, Hampton Water (which has been available at the SAQ in the past), Gris Blanc, and the top-of-the-line Clos du Temple, not to mention the rest of the lineup, which isn’t fully available in the Québec province. If you’re not familiar with Gérard Bertrand, these are prestigious wines from the south of France that invite you to take your time and savour an exceptional wine experience.

So what is Esprit de Cote des Roses?

This new rosé is specifically designed for festive occasions, a trait the team highlights front and centre. The bottle’s redesign, featuring a more pronounced floral pattern, encourages its use as a decorative piece, reinforcing the brand’s floral identity. And no, gentlemen, flowers aren’t just for the ladies.

This sparkling wine, crafted from a blend of Pinot Noir, Grenache Noir and Chardonnay, stands out for its freshness, brightness and festive character. It’s a smart choice to accompany a brunch, an apéritif, or even a full meal, where it’s sure to shine and win over your guests.

Aging and vinification

Grown on a diverse terroir made up of hard garrigue limestone, schist soils and gravel, these vines benefit from the warm, windy Mediterranean climate of southern France, marked by mild winters. The altitude and proximity to the sea help preserve optimal freshness as the grapes ripen.

Only the best was kept for Esprit de Cote des Roses: the grapes are gently pressed, keeping only the heart of the press and setting aside the first and last juices.

Blended with reserve wines, the cuvée is then aged in barrel for several months. Its second fermentation is followed by aging on lees, which gives it added complexity and texture.

How to enjoy it

Esprit de Cote des Roses stands out for its pale, clear and crystalline pink hue, similar to that of the classic Cote des Roses. Its aromatic profile brings to mind fresh red berries and white floral notes. This wine offers an indulgent tasting experience, marked by a delicate, creamy mousse and a perfect balance between freshness and roundness. Although it’s often presented as a more feminine wine, Esprit de Cote des Roses is perfectly suited to brunch, as it’s very dry and not sweet at all, much like a great gastronomic wine. At under $25 in 2026, it’s one of the most affordable sparkling wines on the market.

It’s recommended to serve it between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. This wine pairs beautifully with seafood, shellfish, fish carpaccios, and light Mediterranean cuisine, which inspired the menu below.

Our grand platter with Esprit de Cote des Roses

For a big celebration, a grand sharing platter is a must. I drew my inspiration from the refined aesthetic of Tableaux Paris. The abundance of seasonal Québec vegetables made it easy to bring this vision to life. I opted for a colour palette built around orange and pink-red tones.

This delicious platter was made up of:

• Carrots
• Peaches
• Chioggia beets
• Kumquat
• Mortadella from Les Cochons tout ronds
• Tomatoes
• Parmigiano Reggiano
• Grapefruit
• Strawberries
• Orange cauliflower
• Aged Havarti from Castello
• Frères Jacques from Fromagerie Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
• Antipasto Quattro from Marc Angelo
• Cendrés des Prés from Domaine Feodal
• Saucisson Ménage from Les Cochons tout ronds
• Radicchio

The idea is to arrange everything creatively around the bottle and take your time. It was very generous, and I may even have been a touch short to fill the platter completely.

The meal with Esprit de Cote des Roses

I also put together a meal to go with Esprit de Cote des Roses, something indulgent that would pair nicely with the wine’s dry character.

The appetizer

For the appetizer, I went with a Nordic shrimp and strawberry tartare. This pairing of flavours, combining the salinity of the sea with the sweetness of strawberries, is a real crowd-pleaser. The dish is finished with a touch of mayonnaise, tomatoes and Chioggia beets, all delicately tucked beneath the strawberries. While the preparation isn’t overly complex, it makes for a striking presentation.

The main course

For this main course, I chose a light dish: tagliatelle from Donata by Danny Smiles, tossed with a sauce of cherry tomatoes, peaches, cauliflower and shrimp, finished with Parmigiano Reggiano. While adding cream could have produced an exquisite rosé sauce, I preferred to work with what I had on hand and keep the dish lighter.

Dessert

To bring this meal to a perfect close, a gourmet dessert was in order. I brought back my star ingredient, strawberries, and paired them with cherries, pecans, a few drops of Greek yogourt, then finished with chocolate and pecans thinly sliced on a mandoline. This harmonious pairing brought the meal to an exquisite close.

Esprit de Cote des Roses is available at the SAQ. You’ll find it under the Code: 15614558

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