I’m sure many of you remember those sweet, pink wines from the 70’s. You know the ones; they tasted like fruity bubble gum and left you with a distinct artificial sweetener aftertaste. Admit it; we all have some Mateus, Lancers or White Zin in our wine-drinking pasts.
Even though it’s been enjoying increased attention over the last few years, rosé is still a misunderstood and often overlooked style of wine. Well, forget all of your preconceived notions, ignore the naysayers and try some of the many wonderful rosé wines from producers all over the world. These crisp, food-friendly wines are especially refreshing when the weather turns warm and your thoughts turn to spending relaxing evenings sitting out on the deck.
Rosado, Rosato, Blush
Rosés are made from many different grape varieties, some are single grape and some are blends of grapes. They are called Rosado in Spain, Rosato in Italy and the sweet wines like California White Zinfandel are called Blush. Rosés can range in color from a very pale salmon to a deep, dark pink and come in sweet, off-dry and dry styles. However, I am going to concentrate on the dry ones here.
With traditional rosé production, the wine starts out like a red and is then finished like a white. Red grapes are crushed and the juice is allowed to sit on the skins only long enough to pick up a pink hue. The intensity of the color is governed by the grape variety and the discretion of the wine maker… the more time on the skins, the darker the juice. The skins are then extracted and the pink juice is fermented, usually in stainless steel tanks. This results in wines with lighter versions of the flavors and aromas found in red wines combined with the refreshing crispness found in white wines.
Some rosés are made using the saignée (say-NAY) method. Red grapes are crushed and left to stand on the skins in a tank for several hours. Some of the juice is then bled from the tank and used to make rosé. The remaining juice is left on the skins to make red wine. Sparkling rosés are sometimes made by blending red grapes with white grapes.
A Few to Try
The 2019 Pigoudet Premiere is a Provence rosé from France. A blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Syrah, it is very pale pink. Expressive, floral, fruity and fresh with white peach, leechy and citrus flavors. There’s a good balance between the acidity and fruity aromas of citrus, peach and melon.
Tavel is a region in the southern Rhone Valley in France where they only produce rosé wines, primarily from Grenache. Produced using the saignée method, the 2019 Alain Jaume, “Le Cretace Tavel Rosé gives up vibrant wild strawberry, watermelon, crushed flowers and hints of spice to go with a medium-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. A classic rosé from this appellation, enjoy over the coming year or two.
The 2019 Ippolito, Mabilia Rosé from the Cirò area of Italy’s Calabria wine region, is made from 100% Gaglioppo grapes. The wine is a deep salmon color with aromas of violets, roses and cherries. On the palate, it displays great flavor and length with ripe stone fruit and floral notes.
Most rosés are meant to drink while they are young so don’t wait. Grab a few bottles now, put a little chill on them and enjoy with friends and your favorite summer fare.
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