A Rosy Retreat

Christian and Marina Garin didn’t just take over the Commanderie de la Bargemone, they turned it into a benchmark for Rosé in the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence region.

- June Lee

While having rooftop sunset drinks in the Marina Bay area, I find out that Christian and Marina Garin could – potentially! – have been neighbours with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The former celebrity couple was shopping around for a wine estate in Provence in the late 2000s, and had allegedly been interested in the property next door to the Commanderie de la Bargemone. Their final purchase, however, turned out to be Chateau Miraval, a one-hour drive away in Correns-Var. It’s a fun bit of gossip in any case, and Rosé tends to put one in a carefree mood with her friendly chatter.

The rise of Rosé

Marina Cahen is from Lyon, while Christian is from Marseilles. They married in 1985, and after a carefree “DINK lifestyle in Paris,” Christian deadpans, they had four children and moved to Aix where Christian’s family had always had a home. In 2006, just when they were considering getting involved in the winery business, they were offered the historic Commanderie de la Bargemone estate. The previous proprietors were industrialist Jean-Pierre Rozan, a family friend. The latter had passed away at age 85, leaving the estate to his sons who were not able then to take on the challenge of an ageing vineyard and winery facilities.