I recently attended a lunch at Social Corner in downtown Vancouver paired with a selection of Côté Mas wines from Domaines Paul Mas in the Languedoc in southern France. Two years ago I had a wine pairing dinner in Vancouver with Jean-Claude Mas, introducing me to several of their range of wines. In this lunch, I met with Jean-Claude Mas’ daughter, Elisa Mas, to cover their Côté Mas wines.
The Mas family has cultivated grapes in the Languedoc since 1892. Under the leadership of Jean-Claude Mas, who was awarded Wine Enthusiast’s European Winery of the Year in 2020, the estate has expanded to 1,000 hectares across 17 estates. The core philosophy, “Le Luxe Rural” (Rural Luxury), emphasizes the celebration of simple pleasures through honest, approachable wines that reflect their unique terroir.
Elisa Mas serves as a Brand Ambassador and Marketing Consultant for Côté Mas, representing a synthesis of deep-rooted viticultural heritage and contemporary media expertise. With a background that spans French winemaking traditions, academic achievement in the United Kingdom, and professional experience in international wine promotion, Elisa is currently tasked with the global expansion of her family’s brand. Her strategic focus is primarily directed toward the development of new ventures and the cultivation of the United States market along with a strategic focus on engaging younger consumers.
As part of their innovation with making wines more accessible to people, we were introduced to two wines in their portfolio:
RosOrange: A Category Hybrid
“RosOrange,” is a trademarked product developed by Jean-Claude Mas to offer more texture than traditional rosé.
- Composition: A co-vinified blend of rosé juice (Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Grenache Gris) and orange wine must from white grapes (Macabeu, Vermentino).
- Vinification: White grapes undergo skin contact for approximately one week (skin maceration lasts 6–8 days). Two-thirds of the alcoholic fermentation occurs on the skins before being blended with the rosé portion.
- Profile: It offers “umami” tastes, soft tannins, and refreshing acidity. It is designed specifically for food pairing, moving beyond the “on its own” limitation of some rosés.
The “Manifest” and Participative Packaging
To attract Millennials and Gen Z, the estate has launched “The Manifest” range, which treats the wine bottle as a collectable art object. It is the same wine as RosOrange, but with alternative labels.
- Participative Labels: Some bottles feature labels that the consumer can draw on (“Write Your Story”), while others feature artwork from emerging artists in London or Japan.
- The “Rip-off” Reveal: One specific innovation features a label that can be ripped off to reveal hidden artwork underneath, turning the bottle into a “moving gallery.”
- Objective: To “break the fear of not knowing” about wine and make the experience engaging and shareable online.
The Wines We Tasted
We tasted the following wines during lunch:
Côté Mas – Blanc – Brut – AOP Crémant de Limoux (BC ~ $35.99. not yet available in BC.)
This sparkling wine from the Limoux region is made in the Traditional Method using 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, and 10% Mauzac. It has a pale lemon colour. Light, tiny bubbles in the glass. Nice light, fresh aromas of citrus and stone fruits. Light mouthfeel with higher acidity and small, biting bubbles. Tasty citrus and citrus rind along with touches of stone fruits and crisp apple flavours. 
Côté Mas – Sauvignon Blanc – Vermentino – IGP 2024 (BC $16.99 for 1 litre. BCL exclusive)
Referred to as the “white partner” to their rosé, this wine is available in BC liquor stores for $16.99 (frequently on sale for $14.99) in a one-liter bottle. The label features a painting of the winery and the winemaker’s grandparents on a picnic, a story Elisa Mas shared with the group.
It has a medium-intensity, bright lemon colour. Light aromas of citrus, stone fruits, and a touch of grape stem. This wine is dry, medium body with a smooth texture. High acidity. Flavours of apple, citrus pith, butterscotch, and pepperiness. The wine’s weight lightens up on the mid-palate. There is a touch of bitterness on the finish. 
–
Côté Mas – Rosé Aurore IGP 2025 (BC $14.99 on sale. BCL exclusive.)
Like the white, the rosé is sold in a one-liter bottle at BC liquor stores for $16.99 ($14.99 currently on sale). It shares the same “picnic” label as the Sauvignon Blanc, depicting the philosophy of “rural luxury” and celebrating simple pleasures.
It has a pale rose petal colour. Light aromas of red fruits. Medium-plus body with a smooth mouthfeel. Red fruits, rhubarb, plus touches of stoniness and pepperiness on the palate. Medium-plus acidity keeps this wine fresh and fun to drink. Mouthwatering acidity on the finish. –
Mon Viognier IGP 2024 (available at Moxie’s restaurants across Canada)
It is produced as a 100% varietal to give the full expression of the Viognier grape. 30% of the cuvée undergoes fermentation in
barrel, followed by a partial malolactic fermentation. Aged on fine lees for 3 months.
This wine has a light, bright lemon colour. Light aromas of oranges. Medium to medium-plus body. A very smooth texture. Bright acidity. Stone fruits on the palate, plus touches of butterscotch and some bitterness and pepperiness toward the finish.
Côté Mas: Rosorange (BC ~$21.99. Not yet available in BC. Will be in select private wine stores.)
This wine is a hybrid of rosé and orange wine, an innovation by Jean-Claude Mas intended to create a rosé with more texture that can pair better with food. It uses classic rosé grapes from Cinsault, Grenache Noir, and Grenache Gris, (pressed like a rosé wine) then blended with white grapes (Macabeu and Vermentino) that have had one week of skin contact (orange wine). The two types of wines are combined, and fermentation is completed together.
It has a pale orange colour in the glass. Very light aromas of citrus, and orange in particular. Light body with a soft, smooth mouthfeel. Light red fruits and citrus flavours. It is hard to describe the flavours and maybe I relate to more of a texture. With air, I did pick up rhubarb flavour. Light tannins.
The Manifest (Rosorange Artist Series) (Not currently available in market. Possible release in 2027)
This is a version of the Rosorange designed to attract a younger generation. While the “juice” is the same as the standard Rosorange, this version features a glass top (Vinolok) and a peel-off label! There are five different labels; four featuring artwork by Elisa’s friends and one blank black label that consumers can draw on themselves to make the wine more “engaging”. You don’t know ahead of time which label you will get till you bring the wine home and peel off the label.
Paul Mas Grenache Noir IGP (BC $19.99. On sale for $15.97 till Aug 29/26 at BC Liquor stores)
25% of the wine is aged for 4 months in American (80%) and French (20%) oak barrels, then it is blended with the remaining 75% to age in stainless steel vats. I had this wine with my truffle burger for lunch, and it was a perfect pairing.
A medium-intensity garnet colour. Medium aromas of fresh, crunchy red fruits and red berries. Medium body with a smooth, light mouthfeel. Fresh berry fruit flavours and some pepperiness. Medium acidity and fine-grained medium tannins. A tasty wine.
Château Paul Mas Clos des Mûres AOP Languedoc 2024 (BC ~$31.99. Not currently available in BC.)
This is a higher-end Grenache blend with Syrah and Mourvedre, with each grape fermented separately with malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. It is then aged for nine months in French and American oak barrels. The name comes from a plot behind the estate surrounded by blackberries (“mûres” in French).
It is opaque garnet in the glass. Medium intensity, deep aromas of blackberries. Full body with a smooth, thicker mouthfeel. Ripe black fruits and nutmeg on the palate. Soft tannins and medium acidity. Medium-plus length finishing with black fruits, nutmeg, and pepperiness. –
Our Lunch Menu Options
GOAT CHEESE SALAD
Crispy goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, candied walnuts and heritage greens tossed in our
house-made pear truffle vinaigrette, with a sprinkle of parmigiano
or
WAGYU BEEF CARPACCIO
Beef Carpaccio, parmigiano infused evoo, smoked aioli, arugula, balsamico di modena
and grilled oregano flatbread
2nd Course
SPICY VODKA & STRACCIATELLA (PIZZA)
Spicy vodka, sauce, fior de latte, fresh italian stracciatella cheese
or
THE BURGER
8oz house handground organic Alberta beef, brioche bun, melted fontina cheese,
truffle aioli and syrah caramelized onions, cooked to medium well
or
RISOTTO BURRO E SABLEFISH
Smoked honey glazed filet on brown butter parmigiano reggiano arborio risotto and
grilled radicchio con balsamico di modena
Dessert
TIRAMISU MODERNO
Mascarpone, sheringham espresso liqueur, savoiardi
or
GELATO & SORBETTO
Organic, artisanal & local, ask your server for flavours
I had the Goat Cheese Salad to start, followed by The Burger, and finished with the Tiramisu Moderno.
The Goat Cheese Salad was a vibrant composition featuring creamy goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, candied walnuts, and mixed greens. I enjoyed the crunch of the candied walnuts and greens that contrasted beautifully with the flavour of the pear truffle vinaigrette and creaminess of the goat cheese. I thought that the Côté Mas – Rosé Aurore IGP 2025 made a complimentary pairing with this dish, especially with the creamy goat cheese.
The Burger demonstrated the regional excellence featuring 8 oz. house-handed, organic, Alberta-gradedbeef on a toasted brioche bun. The flavour profile was deepened with fontina cheese, truffle aioli, and Syrah caramelized onions. To ensure a consistent and premium texture, this selection is prepared to a medium-well standard. As mentioned, I had the Paul Mas Grenache Noir IGP with my truffle burger for lunch, and it was a perfect pairing. I caramelized onions and truffle aioli flavours were particularly delicious with this wine.
Tiramisu Moderno was an interpretation of the Italian classic dessert, utilizing traditional mascarpone and savoiardi (ladyfingers). The dish had the inclusion of BC’s Sheringham espresso liqueur, which added a distinct depth to the coffee-soaked layers. We did not have a wine specially to try with this dish, but it was delicious on its own.
Thank You
Thank you to Elisa Mas for telling us about their wines and vision, to Charton Hobbes for inviting me to attend this wonderful lunch, and to Social Corner for the top quality dishes served with the wines.
