Whether sipped at a sidewalk cafe, a country picnic, or an elegant sit-down luncheon, refreshing roses make up some of summertime’s most versatile and easy drinking wines. For a delicious way to beat the heat, just think pink!
Rose can be known as blush, vin gris, rosado, and of course, White Zinfandel. Regardless of the name, all pink wines’ color actually comes from red grapes. To be more precise, the color comes from red grape skins. Once red grapes are pressed, and the longer their juice stays in contact with the skins, the darker the color of the wine. As a result, the most tried-and-true way of making rose is to simply separate the skins and juice after a fairly short soak. An alternative way of making pink wines is to merely blend a small amount of finished red wine into white wine. But no matter which technique is used, one of the most exciting things about roses is that there always seems to be one that is just right for any taste or occasion.
For those just getting to know wine, friendly ‘pinks’ such as blush wines and ever-popular White Zinfandel make an easy intro. With plenty of fruitiness, and dripping with honey-sweet charm, these wines are 100 percent fun. Many people look down upon White Zinfandel, but these people fail to realize that a glass of White Zinfandel to a woman is like a can of Coors Light to a man. Both light and easy to drink, one doesn’t choose to have a White Zinfandel or can of light beer for the complexity. This type of rose is an ideal pour for the crowd that wants no part of swirling glasses, furrowing brows, and eloquent discussions over what’s in the glass. For a unique twist on this easygoing genre, two similar bottles are White Shiraz and White Merlot.
When it comes to summer barbecues, patio parties and picnics, there’s a rose to fit any of these pleasant diversions to a tee. For patio parties, you might pour a fruity, softly off-dry rose. To go with a mouthwatering selection of smoky grilled fare, Argentina and Chile craft dry, food-friendly pinks from distinguished red wine grapes, including Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pondering a picnic? Pull a surprisingly complex, yet affable, California vin gris or Pinot Noir rose from the cooler. Then, kick off your sandals, get comfy, and say ahh.
Once you take the plunge into the world of roses, you’ll see the different types from many regions around the wine world. There are the rose wonderlands of southern France and Spain, which strike an ideal balance between light, satisfying refreshment, and casual elegance and style. Spanish Rioja rosados ooze with a familiar rose petal scent with brighter, berrylike aromas. Also, with their surprising power and heady fragrance, many pinky-orange Mediterranean French roses feature a full-flavored profile that can charm the socks off even the most discerning wine lover at your summer table.
It would be a crime to neglect that pinnacle of pinkness – luxurious Rose Champagne. But why stop there? Exhilarating rose sparklers from France, California, Italy, and even Australia can be found at just about any level of sophistication and at any price.
