A rosé wine is a perfect summertime drink. Gone are the heavy reds we drank all winter. A glass of rosé is refreshing and light, just what you want when dining al fresco. #RoséAllDay!
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Explaining Rosé
They’re not all the same. As we explained in the diagram above, there are two main flavor profiles of rosé — dry rosé and off-dry rosé. Off-dry rosé wines include white merlot, white zinfandel, rosé d’Anjou, garnacha rosado, vin gris and blush wine. Dry rosé wines are further grouped into those that are fruity/floral and herbal/savory. In the fruity and floral category, dry rosé wines include pinot noir rosé, Sangiovese rosé, grenache rosé, Provence rosé, Tavel and rosado. The dry rosé wines with an herbal or savory flavor profile include Syrah rosé, cabernet sauvignon rosé, cabernet franc rosé, Bandol rosé and Loire rosé.
Shades of Pink
When choosing your bottle of rosé at the wine store, you may notice that there is quite a variety of wine colors. The longer the grapes’ skins are left in the wine, the darker the final color of the wine will be. Also, the type of grape used affects the shade — from peach-colored to dark pink. A pinot noir rosé tends to be on the peach-colored side of the spectrum. Merlot rosé is a little bit pinker, and grenache rosé is pinker still. A malbec rosé will be a dark pink color.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the choices in the wine store, so when in doubt, look for something from France — the Provence region in particular. Those tend to be dry, fresh and aromatic. Their color is a very pale pink, sometimes salmon-colored, and they have fruity flavor notes of strawberry, raspberry and citrus.
But don’t worry. We’ll help you choose the best wine pairing.
Choosing the Best Rosé for a Summertime Brunch
Forget mimosas. A bottle of rosé is flirty and fun. If you’re hosting a brunch in your apartment, there are two main directions for your menu. If you go savory, like a meal of herbed frittatas, we recommend your rosé pairing be a bottle of Hogwash 2015. A bottle costs just $16, and it’s been called “summertime in a glass.”
If your brunch menu is sweet instead, like cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit, a good rosé pairing is Impatience Rosé. This wine is one of the many rosés under $20. with a price tag of $19 a bottle. It tastes light, fruity and floral with a long, smooth finish.
Want a Sweet, Frozen Treat?
Forget frozen margaritas or frappuccinos. You can turn your rosé into a frozé. It’s an oh-so-tasty way to beat the heat. It’s not difficult to do, but it does take a little advanced planning. And we hope your apartment has a blender in the kitchen.
Start with a large bottle of a hearty, bold rosé, such as a pinot noir or merlot rosé. Pour it into a 13”x9″ pan and freeze for at least six hours. It won’t completely solidify because of the alcohol.
At least one hour before it’s “rosé o’clock,” bring ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves. Infuse strawberry flavor into the mixture by adding 8 ounces of hulled and quartered strawberries to the pan, removing it from heat and letting it sit for 30 minutes. Then strain the strawberries and chill until cold.
When it’s 30 minutes ‘til drink time, scrape frozen rosé into a blender and puree with 2 ½ ounces of fresh lemon juice, 3 ½ ounces of strawberry syrup and 1 cup of crushed ice. Put the blender jar into the freezer for about 30 minutes until it’s a milkshake consistency.
Then blend again until your frozé is slushy. Divide among four to six glasses, serve and enjoy! After serving glasses of frozé, your friends will be looking forward to the next time you host drink night.
Are Your BFFs Coming Over for a Summer Soiree?
If you’re hosting friends for drinks and snacks, it’s super easy to pair a bottle of rosé with some appetizers.
Try the Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé; it’s just $19 a bottle. This fruity and fresh wine from Provence has even been called the official drink of the Hamptons.
Just add a few appetizers and you’re ready for a good time. This wine pairs deliciously with shrimp and avocado appetizer bites. Or make an easy cheese plate with crostini, prosciutto and Gouda.
Add some chocolate truffles to give a sweet finish to the evening and you might just be in culinary nirvana.
Or Use Your Rosé to Make Some Summer Cocktails
If you have, in fact, been living the #RoséAllDay life and want to change it up a bit, it’s easy to add some excitement by turning your rosé into a cocktail.
For a drink called Pretty in Pink, you’ll need 3 ounces of rosé, 1 ounce of bourbon whiskey and ½ ounce of smooth orange juice. Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled tumbler. Garnish with an orange wedge and enjoy!
To make a Blackberry Bellini, start by taking a handful of fresh blackberries and muddling them in a cocktail shaker using the back of a long spoon. Add 3 ounces of cold sparkling rosé, such as prosecco, plus 1 ounce of vodka, ¼ ounce of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of caster sugar. Shake and pour into a champagne flute using a strainer so there are no bits of blackberry. Top the glass with a splash of sparkling rosé for a cold, bubbly and delicious cocktail.
Sources:
http://winefolly.com
https://www.buzzfeed.com
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/frose-frozen-rose-wine
http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2016/04/a-perfect-pair-what-to-eat-with-rose/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/11728631/Refreshing-rose-wine-cocktails-for-summer.html