In Jamie Ivey’s sequel to the delightful Extremely Pale Ros? he finds out whether it is possible to run a successful ros? bar in France. French friends think it’s a crazy idea. The customers will be largely men; ros? is seen as a woman’s drink; ros? is a seasonal drink and Jamie’s trade will vanish come September – and most bars make their money from food, and ros? isn’t supposed to accompany food.

And yet, France seems to be on the brink of a ros? revolution. Red and white wine sales are stagnant but ros? sales are booming. If Jamie can find a small bar in a pretty square and chalk up a daily selection of different ros?s, then a ros? bar could be a great success. What he needs to do is find the right bar. After a little persuasion, bars in Uz?s, Aix en Provence and Nimes agree to help Jamie sell some ros?, and by working in these bars, Jamie discovers what the French attitude to ros? really is. Are gnarled old men discarding their pastis and sipping pale ros?? Is it just a myth that the French don’t drink ros? with food? Are the young the real reason for booming sales?

Jamie set off at the beginning of June to visit some of the vignerons he met in the first book on his way south. He has bought a bar hidden in the hills of the Luberon, and will do it up over the winter months. He will then try to sell enough ros? during the summer to tide him over to the spring.

For all who enjoyed Extremely Pale Rose, and envied Jamie and Tanya Ivey’s researches, La Vie En Rose is the perfect second glass.