With the advent of warmer weather, rosé wines have become a hot ticket with wine lovers, particularly those who want something cold for patios on the warmest of days.
This is a pleasing way to beat the heat, not to mention how well dry pink wines work well with finger foods like cheeses, nuts, crackers, dips, and the other nibbles that work well under sun-masking umbrellas.
Serious wine lovers also know how wonderful great dry rosés can be as accompaniments to warm-weather foods like savory salads; quiche; chilled soups (gazpacho); and other hot-day victuals (steak tartare).
Unfortunately, most of the pink wines we see don’t explain what sort of wine you'll find, so here’s a brief primer.
Grenache
This grape variety, native to both Spain (as garnacha) and the southern part of France, is prolific and makes a delicious medium-bodied red wine. I think it’s the best red wine grape from which to make pink.The floral components in its aroma are fascinating, often with hints of cranberry and subtle spices that lean toward raspberry.
Pinot Noir
This world-class red wine grape also makes terrific pinks that often are floral and spicy when young, and generally light in color.Cinsault (or Cinsaut)
This lesser-known red wine grape grows well in the south of France as well as South Africa, and is widely respected by winemakers for the dramatic fruit that it can deliver to a red wine blend.It is, however, often a secondary grape used in pink wine blends, particularly from the south of France, where it is respected for delivering lovely mid-palate fruit. It is usually not seen as a rosé completely on its own.
Syrah
This dark red grape also is used to make pink wines, but they can be slightly heavier in style. I have often seen dark syrah roses that emulate light reds, occasionally with a trace of sugar! They can be interesting, but typically they’re heavier in weight than I prefer.Cabernet Sauvignon
This red wine grape can make rosé, but occasionally it can have an aroma that makes it a little strange to people who prefer more traditional aromatics.Cabernet Franc
More likely to produce an elegant and classic European-styled rosé is this cousin to cab sauv. But because it’s so highly prized as a blending grape for red wines, it’s often bypassed for pink.Sangiovese
The grape of Chianti can make delightful dry rosés because it typically has a lighter color and offers good acidity, so the wines usually are relatively well balanced.Zinfandel
In the past, this variety made rosés that tended to be sweet, but recently some small producers are using it to make a dry wine.Most of the above pink wines can be found from various countries. Many are imported here, and prices rarely go above $20 per bottle. Rosés from the south of France have become extremely popular. Here are a few tips:
- The best pink wines come from regions that long have made them, such as Aix en Provence in France and Russian River Valley in California.
- Buy the youngest wine you can find. Right now, that means 2022 rosés. Those from 2021 may be all you can find today. A few 2020 rosés might still be OK to drink, but anything further back is risky.
- Check alcohol levels. The best rosés should be no more than 13 percent alcohol at most; some of the best come in at 12 percent. When a rosé reaches 14 percent, the alcohol intrudes on the flavors; I typically steer clear of those.
- I prefer pinks bottled in dark glass bottles. Clear glass bottles are susceptible to light spoilage, so if the wine you want is in a clear bottle, try to buy it from a sealed case and keep it out of the sun until you want to consume it.
