But don't worry - a baguette is the perfect tool for swabbing any Sherry vinaigrette-infused egg yolk that you might miss. Today, with my first real spring lunch, I drank a rosé from Provence, the 2011 Domaine Les Fouques Cô tes de Provence Rosé Cuv é e de L'Aubigue , $14, Imported by Fruit of the Vines. think that's malarkey.

Like many of the wineries I’ve visited in Provence, the whites, roses, and reds come in three styles or quality levels. The red (a blend of syrah, cinsault, grenache, cabernet sauvignon, and others) has a rich toast nose with hints of vanilla and dark chocolate, and on the palate full bodied with a finish of black licorice.

says Nathalie Vancoillie, a very tanned, toned, attractive woman with sun-streaked hair and an athletic build as she escorts us into her Chateau in Provence, a charming stone structure that dates from the 15th century. Most people think of Provence as St. Grapes include Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Merlot, Cinsault, and Rolle.