Thomas Lechevallier & Laurent Fabry, La Pie Rose: handcrafted wines with a taste of strawberry, blackberry and raspberry...

Thomas Lechevallier is a former restaurateur from the South-West region of France. A few years ago, he met Laurent Fabry, a fine food retailer.

How did the La Pie Rose adventure begin?

An "Original and Catchy" Name

Laurent worked near my restaurant. He offered his clients a flavored wine recipe that I found interesting because it was different from the traditional chemical flavors found in most flavored wines,

Thomas recounts.

In the spring of 2015, as Thomas sought to broaden his professional horizons, he suggested to Laurent that they partner to fully dedicate themselves to developing a range of wines. This proposal marked the beginning of the La Pie Rose adventure.

The name comes from one of my friends who runs a cocktail bar in Périgueux. He regularly ordered bottles from Laurent without labels. So, he called this 'cocktail' La Pie Rose. Naturally, when it came time to choose a name, this one came to mind. We found it original and catchy because it stands out from other producers in the South-West who tend to favor names with local connotations,

explains Thomas.

What makes the wines so special?

100% Natural Wines

La Pie Rose officially launched in May 2015 with the introduction of the "Fraises de Dordogne" cuvée. A year later, Thomas and Laurent released two other ranges: "Mûres Intenses" and "Framboises Délicates." What makes the recipe unique? Soft wines produced under the AOC Côtes-de-Bergerac, blended with fruit pulp.

We purchase the fruit in its raw state and then take it to the lab to turn it into filtered pulp, which we then mix into the wine ordered in advance from the winemakers, allowing the blend to rest in the tank for a certain period,

explain Thomas and Laurent, who signed their first "partnership" with Château Poulvère, located in Monbazillac.

The producers at the estate already made flavored wine and had the necessary equipment, which was a stroke of luck for us,

the partners explain. They also collaborated with the AGROPOLE laboratory in Agen, in partnership with AgroTech, to finalize the La Pie Rose recipe.

How are these wines meant to be enjoyed?

"We Don't Do Pool Rosé!"

Created with a spirit of sharing and conviviality, La Pie Rose wines are best enjoyed young.

Our wines are ideal for summer, but we don't do 'pool rosé'! It's primarily a quality artisanal product that can be enjoyed year-round,

emphasizes Thomas.

What flavors does the range offer?

Three Fruits, One Balance

La Pie Rose wines feature three different flavors: tannic with blackberry, tangy with raspberry, and sweet with strawberry. While Thomas and Laurent chose not to reveal more details about their recipe (due to industrial secrecy), they did share the key to La Pie Rose's success:

Some people might be hesitant to try a flavored wine, often because they fear it will be too sweet. The advantage of our wines is that the fruit pulp provides a nice balance between sweetness and acidity. Unless you absolutely don't like sweet wines, our range is designed to appeal to all palates.

Frequently asked questions about La Pie Rose

Who is behind La Pie Rose?

Two partners from South-West France: Thomas Lechevallier, who spent years running a restaurant, and Laurent Fabry, a fine-food specialist. They joined forces in spring 2015 to build a shared project around flavoured wine.

What flavours does the La Pie Rose range offer?

The range is built around three red fruits: strawberry for sweetness, raspberry for liveliness and blackberry for a more tannic edge. The very first cuvée, Fraises de Dordogne, appeared in May 2015, with the blackberry and raspberry versions following a year later.

How are La Pie Rose wines made?

They start from a soft wine under the AOC Côtes-de-Bergerac, into which the pair folds a filtered fruit pulp. The blend then rests in the tank for a while before bottling, so the flavours settle together.

Where does the name La Pie Rose come from?

It was coined by a friend of Thomas who runs a cocktail bar near Périgueux and ordered unlabelled bottles from Laurent. The offbeat name felt striking enough to keep when the brand was launched.

How should La Pie Rose wines be enjoyed?

These flavoured wines are best drunk young and well chilled, in summer as much as the rest of the year. The fruit pulp balances sweetness and acidity, so even drinkers wary of sweet wines can find their footing.