The art of Rosé by Jeany Cronk & Domaine Mirabeau

In fact, after many years spent in London, Jeany and her husband Stephen decided to turn their life upside down moving to France, a long harboured dream thought to re-enter the world of wine they once knew, when Stephen had a small import wine business after falling in love with wine during a stay in Australia in the eighties.

Why Rosé you wonder? Well Rosé always had a very particular personal meaning for the couple, ‘we were big fans of the iconic Provence pinks, being both approachable and delectable wines.

With a few words of French in the suitcases and a new life ahead’, Jeany and Stephen moved to the village of Cotignac, ready… or maybe not so… ‘to deal with France, French and the Provençal way of life’.

They started to build their Maison Mirabeau brand shortly after, working with some of the best vintners in Provence and an expert oenological and quality team. They launched the vibrant Mirabeau Classic, followed by the precise Mirabeau Pure, then the gastronomic Mirabeau Etoile, followed by their innovative grape-based Gin.

Today, they also farm a 20-hectare estate built around an authentic Bastide, including 14 hectares of vines (principally grenache, cinsault and rolle, a white grape variety typical of South of France).

Domaine Mirabeau is a new reference in the world of regenerative agriculture and they make an age worthy rosé named La Réserve.

What is more, Maison Mirabeau ‘has evolved organically and has become one of the most loved French rosé brands in the UK, Holland, Australia and more recently the US.

At the Domaine, Organic farming was for us an obvious choice… as a natural approach to the land ultimately leads to better grapes.

As organic farming is more and more adopted in South of France, we’ve decided to takeit further with the philosophy of regenerative farming and increasing biodiversity’ adds Jeany (to learn more, visit Regenerative Viticulture Foundation that Stephen co-founded)’.

At home in Provence, a book by Jeany Cronk

To complete Jeany and Stephen’s Domaine Mirabeau’s beautiful potager with, of course, organic vegetables and a small family of farm animals (chicken, ducks, pigs, alpacas…) strong & friendly relationships have been built along the years with local suppliers and farmers around, so as to continue using sustainably sourced ingredients from Provence.

Jeany Cronk published her first book At home in Provence, dedicated to lifestyle in South of France, sharing some 60 recipes ‘showcasing the seasons, focusing on simple cooking with local produce bursting with freshness, made to be shared and bringing a taste of Provence to your table’. With its 4 sections, Les Vignes (what to cook in the harvest season…), Le Village (cooking with inspiring market produce…), La Ville (exploring the chicer side of Provence’s culinary landscape & culture) and La Côte (delving into salty seaside recipes), the cook book is sure to become a must have on your kitchen shelves.

'I had harboured this wish for a long time, to transmit my love for this beautiful area to people beyond visitors to our Domaine and village, who I always saw were captivated by what they saw and felt.

Basically to be able to take this beautiful slice of live in Provence to the living rooms and kitchens all over the world. It’s been the biggest joy to have people send me pictures of the book in the US, New Zealand, Germany and all over the place. I hope it brings everyone who opens it a true moment of happiness' explains Jeany.

A book & 'a real collective piece of work, exactly like our life in Provence' 

She adds : 'I had a wonderful “coup de chance” in that Frankie Unsworth moved to my village she had gotten to know it loosely through us. She’s a very well known food stylist and author (The New Art of Cooking) and so when she arrived I asked her whether she thought we could collaborate on a book and pitch it to a publisher. A few working sessions later we did just that and the first one bought it instantly.

So we were off on our adventure of recipe testing, writing, styling and deciding where to shoot. We worked with some chefs, friends and family to build the recipe collection, so it’s a real collective piece of work, exactly like our life in Provence. We then found the incredible photographer Lizzie Mayson to capture it all in the most authentic and stunning way'.

About another book...

'Well, for now I am busy with this one, and it has been translated to German, so I have a whole new year of a book launch ahead of me. Who knows, if it’s a success I may well do another.

I think as we develop the Domaine I’d like to deep dive into that much more and focus on regenerative food and wine. I have always wanted to extend to a lifestyle line, with some crockery and linens, so I hope one day there will be some Mirabeau items to add to your beautiful tables'.

Any collaboration with magazines?

'Yes, the book has been featured in Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping, My French Country Home, Hello Magazine and the Daily Mail and some digital pages. I am very proud how well it’s done in the press'.

Wish to start... cooking classes?

'Well... Not at the moment, but that would definitely be something I’d love to do if we develop the site further. Cooking with a glass of rosé is always very popular!'

What about Domaine Mirabeau guest house? 

Domaine Mirabeau offers as well a guest house since 2019, Le Mas Farmhouse, a charming villa to rent for families or groups of friends.

'Both houses on the estate are for rent, though the Bastide only when it’s not in use before harvest, the Mas most of the year round. It’s for anyone who likes to get away from the buzz of the Riviera and enjoy the comings and goings on an organic farm. It’s a lovely place to spend some time, full of charm and surrounded by a nature reserve' specifies Jeany.

The concept of Domaine Mirabeau Endless lunch

'Oh yes, the Endless Lunch! It is currently being executed mainly with our event and hospitality partners. For example we have just done one in the VIP area of a famous horse event, or previously at the World Padel Tennis Championships.

We are also house rosé at Soho House and so we just did one during their Festival in the Cotswolds. It’s a really nice moment that lets the brand really shine and we are working on some ticketed events with the general public. Watch this space…'

At last, let's present Mirabeau in Provence, a boutique

'The place to go for any present you want to offer or any decoration for your house you may need. Mirabeau in Provence is kind of an annexe to the Domaine, giving the opportunity for anyone, even not client of the Domaine, to have a glimpse of the Provence we love. A wide showroom, a sip of wine even if you care to know better the Domaine wines, but also, and above all, a fee less admission to South of France lifestyle'.

The Mirabeau boutique opened in 2016, in the heart of Cotignac, after extenstive renovations of a 16C building. It’s a joy to welcome people there and they can taste the whole range, as well as shop some lovely provençal lifestyle items.

My commercial partners are local potters, beekeepers, cosmetics producers, writers. But also some things from all over - it’s the mix that makes it fun.

Many thanks to Jeany Cronk for her collaboration with this article.

The right address: Maison Mirabeau, Stay at Domaine Mirabeau : La Bastide or Le Mas​​​, Boutique Mirabeau in Provence, 5 Cours Gambetta, 83570 Cotignac. Contact : , Tél : 04 94 37 40 02,contact@maisonmirabeau.com. Follow Maison Mirabeau on Instagram & Jeany Cronk on her personal Provence Journals  Instagram for lots more info on Domaine Mirabeau life and style (as well as family and dog stories) in Provence.