HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Go for the Rosé
After years of wine connoisseurs snubbing White Zinfandel, Rose is making a triumphant return. Crisp, light and simple, its refreshing flavor is perfect for warm weather parties. So put down the snob card and join the legions of growing Rose fans. If your Rose knowledge is a little rusty, read on for food pairings, wines to try and tips for getting in on the growing trend.
Before you buy, here are the basics you need to know:
More Wine Tasting Ideas
Good Wine Calls for a Good Party
- A Sensuous Wine Tasting Party
- Perfect Wine Pairings for Picnics
- Sip and Shake Style: Stunning Stemware
- Rose is a wine made from red grapes and is not a mix of finished red and white wine.
- However, sometimes winemakers will mix in white grapes. Although it is often thought of as a very sweet wine, it has dry varieties as well.
- European Rose is generally quite dry, while American Rose is usually sweeter. Often, a sweet Rose is referred to as a blush.
- It's important to note that this isn't a hard-and-fast rule though, so don't automatically assume it's sweet if someone calls it a blush.
Here are five great Rose wines to try.
- Pax Rose of Syrah: Hints of strawberries, raspberries and white pepper make it an interesting, refreshing choice
- Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose; - Grown in the Cotes de Provence wine region on France's Cote d'Azur, these wines have surprising roundness and generosity.
- Marques de Careres - A very dry Rose from Spain with a nice acidity. Also a real bargain at just $7 per bottle!
- Red Bicyclette French Rose - A blend of Syrah and Grenache grapes makes this wine a refreshing summer pick. Fresh notes include the usual strawberry and raspberry spiced up by a hint of citrus.
- Champagne Rose - Laurent-Perrier Brut Rose - a little pricey, but well worth it for the world's best selling Rose Champagne. Made with 100% pinot noir grapes, this champagne has a bright and intense flavor with notes of raspberries, strawberries and black cherries.
Generally speaking, Roses are a very versatile wine and pair well with a number of different dishes. Here are a few to try:
- Appetizers such as antipasto, bruschetta, crackers and cheese (try hard-aged cheeses like Asiago, Parmesan or Reggiano)
- Grilled or roasted poultry dishes including chicken cacciatore, Cornish game hen or chicken teriyaki
- Seafood including appetizers like shrimp or Manhattan-style clam chowder and entrees such as cioppino, scallops, salmon and sea bass.
- Egg based dishes like a frittata, omelet or Quiche Lorraine
- Pork dishes such as pork chops, honey baked ham or pork roast
There are many occasions that are perfect for serving Rose wine. Here are five occasion ideas.
- Bridal Showers: An all-girls soiree is the perfect opportunity to try out some of our Rose picks.
- Summer Garden Party: The light fare and warm weather are ideal for serving a refreshing wine like Rose.
- Backyard Barbeque: Instead of downing cocktails in the heat, a chilled Rose is a nice change of pace that pairs well with spicy BBQ food.
-
Picnic in the Park: Enjoy the refreshing notes of raspberry and strawberry on a hot summer day outside.
- An "It's a Girl!" Baby Shower: The pink color of Rose suits the theme perfectly.
Organizing a Wine
Tree Fundraiser
Tree Fundraiser
An Elegant Table
Setting in Seconds
Setting in Seconds
Perfect Wine
Pairings for Picnics
Pairings for Picnics
