Rose’ Still Wines
It’s the “unofficial start of summer” and nothing chills you out better on a hot Florida day than a lovely glass of rose’! Rose’ can be made from any red grape, or a combination or blend of red and white grapes. Wonderful to sip on a hot sunny day with your toes in the water. The wine is usually lower in alcohol, and ranges in color from pale pink to dark salmon and copper. True Provence Rose’- wine made from that particular region in France, tends to be lighter- and ALL of these rose’ wines are finished in a DRY style. It is not the sweet stuff of White Zinfandel, which garnered fame from California in the 1980’s and 90’s. Today, rose’ means strawberry, cherry, tart fruit and acid, and often a bone-dry finish. Refreshing to drink as an aperitif, or with any combination of lighter meals such as fish and chicken.
How did rose’ get started? Well, back in 500 BC when the Romans and then the Greeks were growing grapes in the south of France, they were not that sophisticated at winemaking. Many wines were fermented quickly and the skins were removed leaving a slightly alcoholic pink wine; the first rose’ ever produced was believed to be in Provence. Cote de Provence is a large Appellation with four sub regions. Over 80% of the wine produced in Provence goes into rose’ winemaking. Different regions of Provence, known for its lavender and thyme fields, allow different varietals to grow many different flavor profiles based on the “terroir”. That being said, almost every region of the world is producing a rose’ wine these days. Let’s explore how it’s made and a few we have here on the shelf for you to try.
There are a couple of ways to turn red wine grape varietals into rose’; the French method of Saignee, which literally means bleed, is a popular method. Winemakers will “bleed off” a small percentage of their red wine production in the early stage of fermentation to make a rose’- typically much darker pink in color with a richer flavor profile.
The Maceration method is the most popular, where the grapes are allowed to rest on their skins for a very short time, allowing more subtle color extraction. The longer the maceration, the darker and more richly flavored the wine will be. This method can produce many styles of rose’ based on the winemaker and terroir of the grapes harvested. Grapes can macerate on the skins from minutes to hours to days.
Direct Pressing is a method similar to maceration- instead of allowing the juice a lot of time to sit with the skins, the grapes are pressed quickly and the skins removed, leaving a natural pink color. Direct Press rose’ usually has more citrus flavors.
Blending is an uncommon method of making rose’ that is actually banned in most parts of Europe (save for Champagne). A small amount of red wine is added to a still white wine to change the color and flavor profile. This method is used in countries outside Europe, though it is not wildly popular.
Here are a few rose’ wines we have on our shelves from all around the world.
Studio by Miraval is a wonderful Provence rose’ born out of plots of vineyards in the south of France surrounded by olive groves and Pine trees. This winery is run by the famed Familie Perrin- who has been making wine for hundreds of years. In partnership with the Pit -Jolie company; yes, Brad Pit still owns the Miraval Winery, and Studio is their entry rose’ wine. A blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle, and Tibouren (all grapes known to the Provence Region of France) this wine shows flavors of strawberry, blood orange and ginger spice, with a smooth richness on the finish. It is perfectly paired with seafood, as the salinity is apparent on the first sip- the vines close proximity to the ocean plays a part in the terroir. Studio is named for the recording studio at the winery where many famous musicians have come to relax, unwind, play music, record music, and sip Studio Rose’! I give it three bones.
Pasqua Rose’ 11 Minutes is from the Trevenezie IGT located near Lake Garda in the Friuli region of Italy. This fun rose’ wine is named for the number of minutes the skins spend resting with the juice (maceration). Mostly Corvina grapes (50%) with some Trebbiano (25%) blended in, and a touch of Syrah (15%) and Carmenere (10%). Pale pink in color with floral aromas and significant acidity. Soft berry and mineral notes. I give it three bones!
Honoro Vera Rosado from Spain is a blend of Syrah and Tempranillo made with a combination of direct press and saignee’. The wine is elegant with a bouquet of apple and lemon peel, with hints of flint. The beautiful salmon color expresses subtle flavors of watermelon and strawberry with bright acidity. I give it two bones!
Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc This famous Joe Wagner California produced wine is offering a rose’ from Sonoma County. Pale pink with a copper hue, citrus aromas, and creamy orange notes, with a dried fruit finish. I give it two bones!
There are South American rose’ and Australian rose’- nearly every part of the world that produces wine has a rose’ in one form or another. Stay cool and refreshed and enjoy a trip around the rose’ world by exploring our aisles. Remember we offer curb side pick up as well. We hope to see you soon!
By Brunello Giancola as told to CRBrown
