Sweethearts: Think Pink for Wine Wednesday

Sweethearts: Think Pink!
Story by Sarah Murphy Robertson

Love is in the air this week on 30a and fewer wines are more romantic than rosés. Treat your sweetheart to a bottle of rosé and watch how they swoon!

Rosé doesn’t come from a particular region or fruit, it refers to a genre of wine and is typically a blend. Most commonly used varieties include pinot noir, syrah, and grenache grapes. Ultimately, the hue of the wine is determined by how long the grapes’s skins are left exposed to the wine during the beginning days of fermentation. Rosés are verstatile and very food-friendly. They can accompany lighter fare like seafood, but they can also stand up to lamb, beef, and heartier dishes. Lucky for those of us who spend time along 30A, Rosés are served chilled and are a beautiful wine to sip in warmer months al fresco.

A classic Provence Rosé, we can recommend is the Chateau du Galoupet. It is gorgeous in the glass – showing off its delicate pale pink color. You’ll notice floral aromas and lots of cherry and raspberry on the palate. This bottle could be served as a starter course with a crisp, lightly dressed salad crumbled with lovely creamy goat cheese and partnered with earthy, oven roasted beets.

A Spanish Rosé or “Rosado” we can highly recommend is the 2011 Marques de Caceres. This beauty is bolder and made with tempranillo grapes with a lot of berry up front. That means it will stand up to bigger flavors like olives or garlic. So try it served with a Nicoise salad or alongside a charcuterie platter with a wide variety of pickled vegetables, smoky meats and pungent cheeses.

The 2014 Mirabelle Brut Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes produced from Schramsberg’s vineyards in Northern California. It is a lovely light pink color and has a crisp, dry finish with the charismatic brightness of strawberry. It should be served young and would go nicely with a meal of barbequed-glazed grilled salmon or halibut.