Things Are Looking Rosé-y for Summer Wines

 Strawberries, cherries and an angel’s kiss in spring
My summer wine is really made from all those things.

--Nancy Sinatra Lyrics to Summer Wine

White wine is my poison.  It doesn’t really matter which varietal but the wild white – Sauvignon Blanc – is my absolute favorite. 

But mid-way through my vacation, I had exhausted myself on Sauvignon Blanc and Champagne, and I wasn’t crazy about any of the Chardonnays. I recalled that my good friends – Rachel and Tracy – both wine connoisseurs – had recently taken to Rosé  wines.

Now I’m not talking about Reunite White Zin which may have been a starter wine for some of us – especially if yous from Jersey.  As opposed to the overly sweet and inexpensive Rosé, the grown up version is one of the most versatile, food-friendly wines around.

So I ordered a glass of Rosé with my lunch one day.  (Hey, there was a strong European influence and I was on vacation, so don’t judge my daytime libations.) I was pleasantly surprised by this summer wine.  It was dry in nature and had a fresh fruit flavor – a hint of strawberry and raspberry. 

After doing some research, I found that Rosé wine hues come from the short contact time that the grape juice has with the grape skin.  They also offer a very good wine value for the money.

Well, I am certainly no wine aficionado -- but I am a wine enthusiast -- so here are some Rosé wine top picks from About.com:

Folonari Pink Pinot Grigio 2005 (Italy) $8
Yes, Pinot Grigio is a white grape, so how the heck is it presented as a Rosé? Italy’s Pinot Grigio grape has dark skin and the fermenting juice is colored by contact with this dark grape skin, producing the lovely pink color.  Fresh floral and fruit aromas are set to greet you upon first impression, followed by a slightly citrus flavor.

Tapena Rosé (Spain) $12
This Rosé from Spain is a delicious blend of Monastrell and Garnacha grapes.  The result is bright pink wine with a tantalizing combination of strawberry, cherry and peach on the palate – great acidity allows for unlimited food pairing combinations.

Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah 2008 (Chile) $16
The Montes Cherub is always a visually stunning wine.  The color is a magnificent hot pink.  This well-received Rosé from Chile is crafted solely from Syrah grapes, producing a classy, dry rosé with plenty of concentrated red berry fruit and a touch of citrus on the edge.

So the next time you are in the wine store, why don't you try a new summertime favorite. Things will certainly start coming up Rosé-s.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Was a Club MTV Dancer

Image
Back in the 1990s, I had a friend who worked at In Style Magazine. She had some connections and got me, and another friend, a gig dancing on Club MTV. The original host – Downtown Julie Brown – was holding the mic and the Pet Shop Boys were rocking The Palladium in New York City during those early years of the MTV show. The show, which was modeled after American Bandstand, cut back and forth between teen-agers (uh, hum and young adults) who would dance to hit songs and videos of those songs.   Often there were musical guests who performed their new singles; such guests included Paula Abdul, Deee-lite, Salt-N-Peppa, Black Box, Vanilla Ice, Samantha Fox and MC Hammer just to name a few. The first time I had the opportunity to dance, I was completely excited but wasn't sure what to expect. I was told to bring several changes of clothes as we would be filming part of a season over a two day period. At the time, I was still going to college and living at home w...
Read more

For The Love of Shopping

Back in the days before I had kids, I would hoard gift cards and checks sent for my birthday and Christmas.   I would savor them for a day in the future when I could get my “shop” on.     My master plan was to set out – all by my lonesome – to my favorite local mall on a Saturday or Sunday morning.   I would always splurge and stop at Starbucks for a Venti latte. Then I would walk the mall, checking out all my favorite stores and scouring the fashion, sales and prices at various shops. Comfy shoes were a must because I never, ever purchased on my first walk through.   This was my research.   Being on a budget, I felt compelled to find the right pieces for my wardrobe but, even more importantly, at the right price. One shopping trip in particular, I ventured into my local mall’s double-decker Forever 21.   I had my coffee, the music was pumping and a gift card was in my pocket:   I was on a natural high that was fueled by the endorphin...
Read more

Two In-Vince-able Collections

Image
I committed a fashion faux pas. At first, I wasn’t even aware of my transgression but, after doing a little research, I realized that I have confused two fashion brands: VINCE and Vince Camuto. Now, this is not surprising and, on occasion, I must live up to my blond hair.  Such as the Louboutin debacle:  I own two pair of the iconic red-soled shoes yet it took me three fashion seasons to be able to say the brand name without stuttering or second guessing myself.  So, with all the different designers and brands out there, I simply can’t assume all the responsibility to know everything about everything, but I certainly try.  So, in this case, I realized that I had to educate myself and figure out the difference between VINCE and Vince Camuto. VINCE, a contemporary clothing line for women and men, was founded in 2002 by Rea Laccone and Christopher LaPolice on the principals of iconic design and superior quality, according to Wikipedia. Sold to the Kellwood Company ...
Read more