Susan Newman Manfull

It was love at first sight when my family and I arrived in the charming village of Lourmarin for a short vacation, nearly 20 years ago. We returned home to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the next thing I knew, we were planning a much longer sojourn in that village and making arrangements to enroll our daughter in the local school there. That led to buying a maison de village— actually two, then a courtyard, a parking spot, and a bergerie— in our favourite Provençal village where we (readily) adopted that certain joie de vivre, established dear friendships, and, to this day, endeavour to blend in with the crowd at Café Gaby.

We no longer own property in Lourmarin, but we continue to hang our hats there frequently and gather fodder for our souls and The Modern Trobaors and Provence WineZine. There is never a shortage.

The Modern Trobadors, conceived in 2008, is about all things Provence: its markets, hilltop villages, lavender, art, literature, culture, history, food, wine, and news. Provence WineZine, launched in August 2014, focuses on wines from Provence and the Southern Rhône Valley regions—with a special emphasis on Provence's world-renowned rosés—and the men and women who make them.

Provence WineZine Taste Wines and Spirits of Provence

Tasty Côte-Rôtie Red Wine Pairing for BBQ Season

Susan Newman Manfull — August 8, 2019

By David Scott Allen for Provence WineZine Côte-Rôtie Red Wine It’s grilling season. And I have to say that Rhône Valley wines are pretty perfect for pairing with grilled meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. Why is that, I wonder? I don’t want to get into the science side of …

Provence WineZine Taste Wines and Spirits of Provence

Decision Time Buying Criteria for Rosé Wine

Susan Newman Manfull — December 20, 2018

Buying Rosé Numerous studies have been conducted in the food industry on what influences shoppers’ buying decisions. I came across several such studies during my printing equipment sales career, as print quality of the package can have an enormous impact, positive or negative, at the moment of selection. …Continue reading …

Provence WineZine Taste Wines and Spirits of Provence

Côtes de Provence Wine Pairing with Salmon

Susan Newman Manfull — October 9, 2018

Today’s tasting may be the most unusual I have done. It is a wine that, if blindfolded when tasted, would not have said “rosé” to me, although it wouldn’t have said red or white. It has no traditional red fruits associated with rosé nor its distinct floral aromas. On the …