Rosé is unquestionably the wine of summer…but why? With Rosé festivals and Rosé All Day events abounding, one has to wonder how this once-shunned category of vino has gained such incredible popularity lately and why it is so linked to summertime.
Not Your Granny’s Blush Wine
“Rosé is not the ‘sweet’ wine it was originally perceived to be,” states Kelly Rodriguez-Laureano, owner/partner of Lolita’s Wine Market. “Once people began to understand that Rosés can range in complexity and styles, it started to take on a life of its own. It is a much easier transition for a traditional red wine drinker to go to a Rosé to enjoy something cold on a hot summer day, than to a white.”
Rosé has, in fact, always been considered a summer wine – we were just late to get the memo! In France, Rosé is almost exclusively consumed in the summertime, but it really is a great option year-round, especially since we live in such a warm climate. I, myself, adore bubbly, so Brut Rosé, a dry sparkling wine, is a staple in my household. Even my husband loves it, as does my mother who had believed she hated Rosé!
Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, located at 2927 Central Ave.
So What is it?
What exactly is a Rosé wine? There are three main ways to make the pink stuff. The most popular is limited skin maceration, meaning that when red grapes are crushed they are left in contact with their skins, but only for a limited amount of time. Then there’s the saignee method in which a winemaker will vinify a red wine, but early in the maceration process, remove some of the juice to ferment separately as a Rosé. Finally, there is simply the blending of white and red wines after they have been fermented. This method is so looked down upon that it is actually prohibited for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines in Europe. Interestingly, the queen of all bubbly, Champagne, is the only exception to this rule.
Find Your Perfect Rosé
What do the pros recommend for those ready to take the plunge? “I love a classic Provençal Rosé,” says Tegan Foster, owner of Hawthorne Bottle Shop, “but I also seek out Rosé of my favorite grapes, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Gamay Noir. My favorite at the moment is a Cab Franc Rosé de Loire from Thibaud Boudignon. It is a bit of a splurge, but totally worth it. My everyday drinker right now is Vanduzer Pinot Noir Rosé from Oregon. It’s a bowl of strawberries with a touch of soil left on them.”
If you still believe Rosé isn’t for you, both wine aficionados have a bit of advice. Rodriguez-Laureano says, “We always start by asking someone what they like in a wine: fruit-forward? dry? minerality? There is truly a Rosé for every palate. It’s just figuring out what you like and how to translate it.” As for pairing, she recommends, “Barbecue, Pork, Fish and Charcuterie.”
Photo courtesy of Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, located at 2927 Central Ave.
For someone unsure about Rosé, Foster asks, “If they drink red wine, and if so, what grapes? That tells me how to choose their perfect Rosé. If you like Cabernet, I can find you a Rosé made with Cab. If it’s Malbec, I’ve got a Malbec Rosé, and so on. Just imagine your favorite red, but chilled, out by the pool.”
It’s time to rethink pink, folks! Get out there and enjoy the official wine of summer. I highly recommend stopping by Hawthorne and Lolita’s to speak to their knowledgeable staffs and find your perfect Rosé!
