In the wine country of Provençe, Régine Sumeire holds legendary status.

As one of the first women to engage in vinifying practices in the region, and having made wine at Chàteau Barbeyrolles since 1978, in 1985 she changed the world’s perception of rosé wine when she created the rosé wine “Pétale de Rose” – a sheer, pink wine.

Before Sumeire, rosé wasn’t considered a “proper” wine, but rather something that people who didn’t know much about wine preferred to drink during a few summer months, when the heat made it more important that the wine was refreshing than having a nice taste.

Ever since, Château Barbeyrolles has had a place in the history books of wine. 

Régine Sumeire inherited her interest in viticulture from her father, Roger Sumiere, who had introduced her to the world of wine already at a young age. Member of the bacchanalian order since 1982, she was appointed Commander of Order of the Knights of Medusa and is also a member of the Academy of French wine.

She acquired Barbeyrolles – twelve hectares – in 1977. The vineyard is located at the foot of the village of Gassin, and the wine is produced according to organic and biodynamic agriculture, including ploughing using horses, picking the grapes by hand and loading them directly into the press.

Five percent of all their wines are red, three percent are white and the remaining 92 are rosé.