Think Pink!
Dearly Decanted explores summer in a glass...
The veteran singer and actress Kay Thompson stole the show in Funny Face when she encouraged women everywhere to Think Pink! Thompson was referring to a woman’s wardrobe, but she could have just as easily been celebrating the wine of summer or Rosé. And Thompson’s not alone. Dame Joan Collins took to social media recently to declare Rosé season officially open, calling it sunshine in a glass.
Instagram Screen Shot of Dame Joan Collins
Today’s Rosé, while similar in color to white Zinfandel, is drier and more complex. And it’s big business. In 2023, the global Rosé wine market was valued at US $3.27 billion according to a recent report from Zion Market Research. The biggest producers are France, Spain, and the United States.
There are several red grapes that are used to make Rosé. A winemaker can use a single varietal like Pinot Noir or can blend a variety of different grapes including Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Sangiovese, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. The color of the wine is determined by how long the juice remains in contact with the grape skins after harvest. In the case of sparkling Rosé, a small amount of still red wine is blended with the base sparkling wine.
Wine Scholar Guild Instagram Screen Shot
When you visit a wine store, you’ll see bottles of Rosé that range in color from very pale pink to dark salmon. In terms of taste, most are dry, light to medium-bodied, with strawberry, raspberry, and melon flavors. You might also get a hint of citrus, and minerality on the finish. The darker the color, the bolder, richer, and more savory the wine. Think of jam, herbs, and earthy notes. Lighter Rosés can be paired with anything from summer salads and Gazpacho, to a range of cheeses and juicy burgers. Darker hued bottles are comparable to a light red wine. They pair well with shellfish, chicken, pasta with cream sauce, and pork tenderloin.
A selection of some of my favorite Rosés
There are also a number of cheap and cheerful Rosés that you can buy for $15 and under. They are quaffable and best enjoyed in an oversized glass filled with ice. In France, they are known as Rosé “piscine” or Rosé on the rocks.
A chilled bottle of cheap and cheerful Rosé, served on the rocks, from Trader Joe’s
Most Rosés are made to be drunk young and served chilled. If you order a decent glass of Rosé in a restaurant, you can expect to pay $18 and up. Cheers!
My passion for the wine lifestyle began when I worked at a boutique winery in an emerging wine region. It continues today with wine and food travel. I’m also co-hosting a wine club where we swirl, sip, taste and pair on a monthly basis. A version of this newsletter will appear in the August issue of the Vegas Voice where I serve as wine columnist.
Wonderful!!!!