One of my favorite wine bloggers, Rob Burden from Corks & Caftans, inspired this post when he wrote about the misconceptions of rosé in his blog titled, "Real Men Drink Rosé." Not only has rosé acquired a dicy image, but it has also been termed a "summer" wine. Though crisp and refreshing rosé is a great choice in the heat of summer, it is so versatile that it shouldn't be counted out of the running as a great winter wine or selection for your Valentine's Day dinner.
Rob writes, "I once heard a story about a little old lady who loved to order white zin on the rocks with Sweet N' Lo. I'm not kidding. Sweet and cheap as it is, white zinfandel has given pink wines a bad reputation."
But, rosé is a truly wonderful wine and it has made a strong comeback in the U.S. recently. Rosés offer fresh fruit flavors of strawberries, cherries, raspberries, grapefruit, watermelon, or spice. When made well, rosé is one of the most universal of all wines in pairing options because of its balance of acidity and fruit with a light to medium body. Rosé is a great companion to shrimp, crab, salmon, chicken, pastas, barbecued food, and salads.
Rosé, which means "pink" in French, is the most widely produced and consumed wine in many parts of France. The wine is made from red grapes, but the skins are removed early in the process, resulting in the light pink or salmon color. Rosé can be produced from a wide array of varietals including Grenache, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and blends.
Rosé wines are not meant to be aged, so you should consume the wine within two years of its release or it will lose the fruit. Rosé should be served chilled, but not iced.
Southern Oregon producers are making great quality rosés. Three I recommend to try are:
This dry rosé is a blend of Sangiovese and Viognier with notes of strawberry and melon. It is well balanced with a long, bright, acidic finish.
This dry fruity rosé is a blend of Grenache and Primitivo with small amounts of Viognier and Syrah for balance.
And two I recommend to get on the waitlist for on the next vintage:
With only 54 cases produced, this wine sold like hot cakes. If you are one of the luckies who snatched it up well you still could, mind sharing?? Hopefully, a 2009 will be released this spring!
A substantial rosé with brilliant ruby hue. Wild strawberry, red current and set stone aromas introduce a juicy mouthfeel of watermelon, raspberries, and cream. Finished dry, with a clean minerality and racy acidity.
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