With the advent of warmer weather, rose 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 roses 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 rose 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 rose, 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 rose 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 roses 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 roses 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. Roses from the south of France have become extremely popular. Here are a few tips:
Wine of the Week: 2022 Balletto Rose, Russian River Valley ($19)—Bright with a cherry-berry aroma and a trace of watermelon, this lighter-styled, very dry pink is always a delight. Often, it’s seen at $15 or less.