Rose' wine has a big stigma to overcome - the infamous White Zinfandel. The new dry rose' wines do just that, however. It was the one thing I brought back from our trip to the Wine Country, rose' will be my new summer wine.
I was very pleasantly surprised with the complexity of some of these wines - yet without the oak flavor that I seem to prefer less and less. Don't get me wrong - a buttery Chardonnay is still appreciated - but I'm leaning towards lighter, steel-barrel wines. For one thing, the heavy reds tend to make me feel hot - and not in a good way. I don't know if it is the tannins, or being in oak barrels longer, but it appears I'm not the only one that feels that way. There has been an explosion of new dry rose' wines - in fact it is easier to find the dry rose' wines than my other favorite - pinot grigio - at the wineries we visited. The best ones are from France and Spain, countries that have been drinking them for years.
It is a red wine for white wine drinkers. It pairs well with picnic foods and anything one would serve with red wine. For me it will be summer BBQs and nights when we have main-dish salads for dinner.
The prices are not bad. The ones we bought in the Wine Country were more on the expensive side - but that was because they were only pouring their more expensive wines. First they charge for the sampling, then they only pour their premium wines. But maybe with people cutting back on extravagances it is the only way to have captive audiences to try their best wines. It takes some of the fun out of visiting wineries, however.
I am currently drinking a Mill Creek rose', which they do not have on their website, but I intend to look for a few more to stock up for the summer season. Here is a site that gives some information on what to look for, and what to expect to pay - it also takes you to the winery or distributor if you would like to order it online.
So what is your favorite summer wine? Or do you prefer a summer cocktail?
Have a great weekend everyone!
19 comments:
Nancy, you need to come here! We live 30 minutes from the Hunter Valley (google it). Everything flows freely, pun intended.
I love the idea of a dry rose`. I was a Chardy drinker, but now a Cabernet Sauvignon drinker, and it does make me HOT too, (Also not in a good way!)
Check the date of my previous comment.
nice...will check out rose wine...my FIL makes a wicked dandelion wine
I am a diehard red wine drinker and like a full-bodied merlot or syrah the most. Also red zinfandel. I do know some white wine drinkers and will suggest this rose to them, though. :-)
hmmmm - nice wines and things thereof - i'm a dark red wine person myself - italian or french - always have been - when i want something lighter i usually go for a good chardonnay -
Each area of Italy has it's own wines, red and white. Our area of Abruzzo has a trebiano white wine that is light but delicious! My new favorite.
Oh I love Rose! Chile makes some exceptional dry Rose' I just had a glass (okay more than A glass) last night with some grass fed beef. Beautiful!!
i enjoy wine, but it doesn't like me. i don't know why it stops up my head, but it does. i can sip it very slowly sometimes.
Rose...not a subject I know anything about since I moved on from white zinfandel & cheap roses years ago. Curiously enough, an episode of "Barefoot Contessa" this week was about wine & cheese pairing & the Coppola Vineyard had Ina swooning over a new rose of theirs. I actually paid attention and thought, "Could roses be good now?"
Some of that synchronicity perhaps?
I am a Chardonnay girl all the way. That said I do enjoy a good full-bodied Cabernet sometimes. Chardonnay seems like more of a summer wine to me though.
Hi Nancy,
Dry rose sounds very good.
Sorry I have not been visiting much recently.
Since I have been spending more time sitting in my wheelchair I have not been visiting.
Tonight I decided to visit as many blogs as possible.
I just passed by to say hello.
I hope you are doing well.
Love,
Herra
I haven't been drinking since we left AZ; I needed to dry out my liver! I do like home made mojitos. I've yet to find a wine that I'm head over heels about - don't get me wrong - I drink it, but I haven't found THE ONE yet!
Lovely, a glass of vino shared with the one you love........perfect
I prefer reds.. Shiraz, Merlot or Malbec but would not turn down a white or rose, if you're offering. ;)
Thank you for this spot-on post! I love rose, but it does have to overcome that White Zinfandel stigma. A sommelier-friend turned me on to it after I turned up my nose -- no more snoot in the air for me! I learned my lesson! : )
i generally gravitate towards white wines, but now that you mention it, it would be nice to try a rose for a change~
Wine reviews. I love it. Off to check your link.
You are really a multi-faceted writer, Nancy. Living in the land of rosé wine, I can only say that the whole gamut of taste and quality is available here. The winegrowers of Provence get a tad upset when it is suggested that their pinks are not as refined as their red cousins.
Not knowing anything about wine myself, I was quite intrigued to read your reveiw, which all sounded pretty good to me.
I love pink sparkling rose! I need bubbles!
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