Ooh, those panisses sound delicious! I do believe these will be on my menu this weekend. Merci! Bon courage with the heat wave, Vero. They sound intense this summer!
A summer spritzer sounds delightful with all the heat you are having. I made lemonade with fresh lemons a few weeks ago when it was 80 degrees here, it was great! I enjoyed your article Véro and learned a lot! Merci, Joyce
Thank you for the history AND the serving ideas/recipes. It is so very hot that I don’t dare have alcohol in the middle of the day because it makes me dizzy/faint. I wait until the evening. I’ll look for the Rosé!
Interesting read, Véro! In Austria we have the Sommer-Spritzer (summer spritz) that contains one part of dry white wine and three parts of sparkling water. Keeps you fresh and hydrated. Our heatwave is about to start today 🥵.
We used to make wine in southern France and it wasn't unknown for us to put ice cubes in our own wine in the summer. Although not for long. Enough time to chill the drink and water down the alcohol. But if you left the ice in too long, the higher pH of the icy water would lower the wine's acidity rendering it LESS refreshing.
Je crois que vous êtiez mon professeur lors d'un cours de français voyageur que j'ai suivi au BCC il y a de nombreuses années. Je reviens tout juste de mon cinquième voyage en France. Je ne suis jamais déçu. Je sais que j'y retournerai.
C’est tout à fait possible Chris! So happy you’ve been enjoying your travels around France. Make sure to subscribe to “Lettres de France” if you haven’t yet. I am guessing you will enjoy the stories I share here (For virtual travel between trips, head to the France with Vero YouTube channel) :-) A bientôt !
What a great, refreshing post! I was just wondering earlier why I felt more dehydrated in France than last week in Spain.
They also have their Sangria, in which it is permitted to mix fruits and ice cubes to the wine. I discovered a new version, the "tinto verano": Cava, grenache or some kind of Spanish wine mixed with lemonade and lots of icecubes. I'm adopting it!
When people say that no one in France would ever put ice in their wine, I tell them that in the South in the broiling summer your rosé is brought to the table in restaurants with a bowl of ice!
I must confess, I wondered about that - I'm still in Southern US (moving in early 2026 to France), and I ice my wine in the hot months. Not just rose, either. ;)
I had heard of "Rosé Piscine" but thought it was just a particularly refreshing rosé. I had no idea of the idea of mixing in so much water plus ice cubes!
I've actually seen some French women ask for ice cubes with rosé in cafés the past few years -- on the side -- a glass can warm up so quickly in the type of heat we're having. I don't care to admit that I have done this myself, but I have -- only in extreme circumstances, bien sûr!
Coucou Betty ! "Rosé Piscine" is only rosé wine and a lot of ice cubes (that turn into water eventually.) "51 Piscine" is the one where you need to add water and lots of ice cubes to Pastis. Very fun drinks.
Well, if my grandma were still around, she'd immediately tell you that yes, 19.9C is too low and might indeed help you catch a cold ;-) She is the reason I still turn off A/C above my head as I travel around the country on comfortable coaches with groups of North American travelers. I also turn off A/C in my hotel rooms as much as I can or crank up the system to 23 or 24C. Ha. Ha. I *must* be French.
Your Grandma's right. I turn it off at night unless its unbearably hot, and then set it to 24*. Otherwise I get 'AC Throat' that dry cough from too much aircon.
Much of the reason for it is my Briard (big hairy dog), who dislikes the hot weather and adores the aircon. He's the third Briard I've had, and they all disliked the hot weather, even more so in Provençe where I lived for a few years.
This was simply delightful! As we welcome summer in the South, our first heat wave brings the usual warnings about hydration. These Marseille options or a mocktail would certainly be refreshing. Great ideas, Véro!!
Ooh, those panisses sound delicious! I do believe these will be on my menu this weekend. Merci! Bon courage with the heat wave, Vero. They sound intense this summer!
Yes, the weather has been all sorts of fun!
A summer spritzer sounds delightful with all the heat you are having. I made lemonade with fresh lemons a few weeks ago when it was 80 degrees here, it was great! I enjoyed your article Véro and learned a lot! Merci, Joyce
Merci Joyce. I would have loved sampling your lemonade :-)
Thank you for the history AND the serving ideas/recipes. It is so very hot that I don’t dare have alcohol in the middle of the day because it makes me dizzy/faint. I wait until the evening. I’ll look for the Rosé!
Any dry rosé (and some ice cubes) will do nicely!
Interesting read, Véro! In Austria we have the Sommer-Spritzer (summer spritz) that contains one part of dry white wine and three parts of sparkling water. Keeps you fresh and hydrated. Our heatwave is about to start today 🥵.
Bon courage. It looks like we will get round 2 this week. :-(
Panisses are the love child of falafel and grilled polenta.
Oh no! Now I will have more competition for the vintage pastis items at the brocantes! 🤫
Désolée !
We used to make wine in southern France and it wasn't unknown for us to put ice cubes in our own wine in the summer. Although not for long. Enough time to chill the drink and water down the alcohol. But if you left the ice in too long, the higher pH of the icy water would lower the wine's acidity rendering it LESS refreshing.
Advanced technique: adding ice then removing it!
Je crois que vous êtiez mon professeur lors d'un cours de français voyageur que j'ai suivi au BCC il y a de nombreuses années. Je reviens tout juste de mon cinquième voyage en France. Je ne suis jamais déçu. Je sais que j'y retournerai.
Thank goodness for Google Translate!
C’est tout à fait possible Chris! So happy you’ve been enjoying your travels around France. Make sure to subscribe to “Lettres de France” if you haven’t yet. I am guessing you will enjoy the stories I share here (For virtual travel between trips, head to the France with Vero YouTube channel) :-) A bientôt !
What a great, refreshing post! I was just wondering earlier why I felt more dehydrated in France than last week in Spain.
They also have their Sangria, in which it is permitted to mix fruits and ice cubes to the wine. I discovered a new version, the "tinto verano": Cava, grenache or some kind of Spanish wine mixed with lemonade and lots of icecubes. I'm adopting it!
Excellent. Please bring some over next time you visit me in the ‘hood Emily! Merciiiii!
When people say that no one in France would ever put ice in their wine, I tell them that in the South in the broiling summer your rosé is brought to the table in restaurants with a bowl of ice!
I must confess, I wondered about that - I'm still in Southern US (moving in early 2026 to France), and I ice my wine in the hot months. Not just rose, either. ;)
As long as peer pressure doesn’t bother you, you will be fine ;-)
I can relate. Guess that dates me ;-)
I've passed the age where I'm bothered by anyone else's judgment or pressure. ;)
People need to travel more (especially outside Paris) ;-)
I had heard of "Rosé Piscine" but thought it was just a particularly refreshing rosé. I had no idea of the idea of mixing in so much water plus ice cubes!
I've actually seen some French women ask for ice cubes with rosé in cafés the past few years -- on the side -- a glass can warm up so quickly in the type of heat we're having. I don't care to admit that I have done this myself, but I have -- only in extreme circumstances, bien sûr!
Coucou Betty ! "Rosé Piscine" is only rosé wine and a lot of ice cubes (that turn into water eventually.) "51 Piscine" is the one where you need to add water and lots of ice cubes to Pastis. Very fun drinks.
Oops, I just reread this and realized I got a little mixed up. I see now that the "51 Piscine" photo has nothing to do with rosé.
Fun fact: Vinovalie is in the Tarn. You can see their headquarters from the freeway going to Toulouse from Albi.
Last autumn I installed a domestic aircon/heat pump on my boat. Today; 34.9*C outside, 19.9*C inside!
Smug face! 😬 (Actually, it's a bit chilly, might need a sweater......... 😂)
Well, if my grandma were still around, she'd immediately tell you that yes, 19.9C is too low and might indeed help you catch a cold ;-) She is the reason I still turn off A/C above my head as I travel around the country on comfortable coaches with groups of North American travelers. I also turn off A/C in my hotel rooms as much as I can or crank up the system to 23 or 24C. Ha. Ha. I *must* be French.
Your Grandma's right. I turn it off at night unless its unbearably hot, and then set it to 24*. Otherwise I get 'AC Throat' that dry cough from too much aircon.
Much of the reason for it is my Briard (big hairy dog), who dislikes the hot weather and adores the aircon. He's the third Briard I've had, and they all disliked the hot weather, even more so in Provençe where I lived for a few years.
Briards are beautiful dogs, lucky you!
J’adore! (And I knew Ricard was first, thanks to our fabulous class on French icons!)
Exactement Christy! Hope you are doing well and temps in your corner of the woods don't require drinking gallons of "Ricard" to survive. ;-)
Almost as good as travelling to La Belle France
Thank you very much. I might re-use this quote on my website soon if that's all right with you?
Ok
Merci :-)
This was simply delightful! As we welcome summer in the South, our first heat wave brings the usual warnings about hydration. These Marseille options or a mocktail would certainly be refreshing. Great ideas, Véro!!
I aim to please, Marcelle :-)
Next visit to my beloved city Marseille I will try these with my Pastis! I now serve Pastis in my home in île du prince Eduardo😊
Very cool. The humble Pastis has traveled a long way!