#NationalRoséDay: Time to Drink Pink

The second Saturday in June has been anointed as National Rosé Day. Those of us who love rosé and drink it all year long don’t really need a reminder, but it is great fun to celebrate this delicious pink wine. To celebrate we have a collection of rosé from France, Italy and Spain. All were provided to us as tasting samples.

Provence is absolutely the wine region most closely associated with rosé, and for good reason. It is home to many wonderful rosés, but it doesn’t have a corner on the rosé market by any means. Every year we sip delicious rosé from around the world and the rosés in this group are an excellent example of that. Some are some old favorites and some are new to us and one is even from Provence.

Often when I mention rosé to someone they will turn up their nose and say they’re too sweet. I don’t know where this comes from, often white Zinfandel is identified as the culprit, but I guess I missed out on that icky, sweet rosé all those years back. My appreciation of rosé started more recently, along with my appreciation of wine in general, in the time of aromatic, flavorful, dry rosé. The wines in this tasting will make that point and they won’t break the bank.

2018 Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosé, Trevenezie — ballet slipper pink in the glass with melon and dried herb aromas. Delicate berry, watermelon and dried herb flavors blend with a squeeze of citrus. 12.5% abv. SRP $20

The flavors here provide an interesting combination of fruit and savory flavors. It’s kind of a nice surprise and makes a good choice if you’re looking for something different to sip. This wine came into its own on day two.

This lovely rosé is a blend of traditional and international grape varieties. Regional varieties of Corvina (50%) and the white grape Trebbiano di Lugana (25%) are blended with Syrah (15%) and Carmenere (10%). Skin contact is brief, only 11 minutes, and this duration gives the wine its name. The must is transferred to stainless steel tanks and left to settle for 11 hours. After fermentation the wine remains on the lees for three to four months.

There is a second meaning to the name of this wine that is causing me to blush as I write this: the optimal time for physical contact between lovers. This, according to Catullus an ancient Roman poet whose family property bordered Lake Garda, makes a great story, no? Thank you Jane (Creative Palate Communications) for sharing that tale.

2018 Beronia Rosé, Rioja —  ballet slipper pink in the glass with tart cranberry aromas. Cranberry and raspberry flavors follow with a generous squeeze of citrus and hints of earth. 13% abv. SRP $12.99

The color of this rosé in the glass is lovely and you can’t argue with the price. The flavors are bright and refreshing.

This beautifully hued rosé is made from Garnacha (55%) and Tempranillo (45%) with just enough skin contact to impart color, aromas and flavor. 

The Beronia winery has over 60 acres of estate vineyards around the winery in Rioja Alta and contracts with 200 growers in the area. 

2018 Château Roubine La Rose, Côtes de Provence — pale rose in the glass with aromas of white flowers and ripe mixed berries. Flavors of ripe blackberries, strawberries, tropical fruit along with a grating of citrus zest are complex and layered. Bright acidity keeps this lovely rosé light on its feet. 13% abv. SRP $23.99

This Provencal rosé makes the case for rosé in general and Provence specifically. It is beautiful to look at, beautifully aromatic and so flavorful. It tastes dry and is a complete pleasure to sip. I love that all this complexity is delivered in such a delicate color.  

Grapes are grown in chalky and clay soils within Côtes du Provence. 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 10% Syrah undergo maceration on the skins for up to 3 hours. 

2018 Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé, Côtes du Rhone — pale salmon in the glass with hints of melon and blackberry aromas. Delicate berry flavors, gravelly minerality and hints of cedar combine with a squeeze of citrus. 13.5% abv. SRP $14

For several vintages we have tasted this rosé and found it to be reliably delicious. It’s very fairly priced and one to watch for.

50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cinsault spend just enough time on the skins to impart the desired color, aromas and flavor before being vinified in stainless steel. 

Ferraton is a grower-negotiant winery with 37 acres of estate vineyards in the northern Rhône’s Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph appellations. Estate vineyards are Demeter Certified Biodynamic®. 

Ferraton’s negotiant range, including this wine, is sourced from sustainably-farmed vineyards in both northern and southern Rhône appellations.

2018 Domaine de Bila-Haut “Les Vignes” Rosé, Pays d’Oc  — pale salmon in the glass with earthy red and dark fruit aromas. Flavors of cranberries and ripe raspberries combine with a grating of citrus pith on the finish. 12.5% abv.  SRP $15

This is another of our favorite rosés every vintage. 

Domaine de Bila-Haut is a property owned by the Rhône specialist, Michel Chapoutier. It is located in the Agly Valley in Côtes du Roussillon. Grenache (75%) for this rosé is sourced from the Bila-Haut estate and Cinsault (25%) is sourced from a grower up in the Gard. Prior vintages of this rosé have also included Syrah.

2018 Viña Real Rosado, Rioja — pale raspberry in the glass aromas of ripe strawberries and cherries. Delicate berry flavors combine with gravelly minerality, citrusy acidity and savory notes in the background. 12.5% abv. SRP $13  

The flavors are slightly less fruity than the aromas, but this is a very refreshing and flavorful rosé.

Viña Real is one of four wineries under the umbrella of Compañia Vinicola del Norte de España (CVNE). The Viña Real winery is located in Laguardia within the Rioja Alavesa wine region. 

This rosado is comprised of 75% Viura (a white grape), 15 % Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha that was placed in a vat and allowed to macerate at a cold temperature for several hours. The vat was drained, without pressing, and fermentation of the juice followed.

This is quite a diverse and delicious collection of rosé. They are easy on the pocket book as well. Happy sipping!

We have more rosé goodness to share with you beyond National Rosé Day. I will be posting on Instagram tomorrow for #NationalRoséDay and we have two more rosé posts to come.

Cheers!