Colette - La belle collection: ‘Our wines pay tribute to exceptional people’.

To celebrate the return of sunny days, we head to Provence to meet Erwann de Barry and Alfred Laurent, who welcome us into the Belle Collection and share the story behind the cuvée “Colette.”

What vision drives the wines of the Belle Collection?

Not rosés with candy-like flavors

Founded in 2013, the Belle Collection brand is the result of a meeting between three friends who share the same passions: wine and entrepreneurship. All the wines in the brand are crafted in partnership with Château Saint-Martin, using the typical grape varieties of Provence: Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and more.

I want our wines to be fresh, expressive, and complex. They must not have the flavors of English candy. You know, those rosés with very bright colors and extremely sweet tastes that need to be diluted with tons of ice before drinking!

For Erwann, wine is not just about taste. It’s also an opportunity to pay tribute to exceptional individuals.

I want to convey the qualities of people who have marked me through our wines,

he explains. This desire to personify his wines gave birth to what now defines the identity of La Belle Collection: the cuvée Colette.

Colette is known for her joy of life. With her, you feel like you're on vacation: she evokes café terraces in the sun, fine sand, pétanque games in the village square…

Who is the Colette behind the cuvée?

A tribute to an exceptional woman

But who is this famous Colette? One might think of the renowned novelist who had a passionate relationship with wine. However, she was actually a woman from Erwann’s hometown.

She was remarkable! Always with extraordinary stories to tell. Very brave as well. She participated in the Provençal resistance during World War II. She reminded me a bit of Léa Delmas, the heroine of Régine Deforges' novel La Bicyclette Bleue. So, I thought it was fitting to illustrate the cuvée Colette with a woman on her bicycle.

Alfred Laurent, using his drawing skills and graphic design talents, created the label. Here’s the result.

What comes next for the two partners?

Two new cuvées in a month

Erwann and Alfred don’t plan to stop with the cuvée Colette. The two partners are currently working on two new wines (a white and a red) inspired by two more exceptional characters. The first (red wine) is based on a famous World War I aviator. The second (white wine) is a woman “exceptional” enough, according to Erwann, that she could or should have been among the “great names in history.” Stay tuned…

Frequently asked questions about La Belle Collection

Who inspired the Colette cuvée from La Belle Collection?

Colette pays tribute to a woman from Erwann de Barry's home village, a member of the Provençal resistance during World War II. Alfred Laurent drew her label, which shows her riding a bicycle.

Which grape varieties go into La Belle Collection wines?

The brand relies on the classic southern varieties: Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. This Provençal base gives wines meant to stay clean and easy to drink.

Which estate does La Belle Collection work with?

Founded in 2013, the brand works hand in hand with Château Saint-Martin, in Provence. That partnership frames the production, from the vineyard to bottling.

What style of rosé is the Colette cuvée?

Erwann de Barry aims for a lively, aromatic rosé with no sugary heaviness. The idea is to move away from the very bright, sweet styles people drown in ice.

Is La Belle Collection planning new cuvées?

Yes. Erwann de Barry and Alfred Laurent are working on a red and a white, also inspired by striking figures: a World War I aviator and an exceptional woman.