When it comes to buying rosé wine, the options can be overwhelming. With so many different labels and descriptions, it can be hard to know what to look for. However, with a little knowledge, you can find a great bottle of rosé to enjoy.
Dry vs. Sweet
One of the most important things to consider when buying rosé is the level of sweetness. A dry rosé is made by allowing the fermentation process to run to completion, resulting in a wine that is tart and crisp. On the other hand, a sweet rosé is made by stopping the fermentation process early, leaving some residual sugar in the wine.
French AOC rosés from Provence and Languedoc are almost always dry, while white zinfandel is reliably sweet. If the label lists the appellation but little else, it’s a good idea to search the producer’s website or ask a shop staffer for more information.
Pale Does Not Mean Weak
Another common misconception about rosé is that a paler wine means a lighter, less interesting one. However, the color of a rosé is actually determined by how long the grape skins stayed in contact with the juice during winemaking. A wine made with two hours of skin contact can be strikingly pale while still delivering concentrated citrus, melon, herb, and mineral notes.
Deeper salmon or copper-toned rosés come from longer skin contact or warmer-climate grapes and tend to be fuller and more fruit-forward. When shopping for rosé, it’s a good idea to look for style descriptions rather than color.
Provence vs. Domestic
Provence rosés are built on Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre grown in limestone soils near the Mediterranean. They are pale, dry, and mineral-driven, with restrained stone fruit and a saline finish. American rosés from California and Oregon often take a different approach, tending towards a richer, fruitier texture and frequently using pinot noir or syrah.
Neither style is superior, and the best choice will depend on personal taste. A California rosé with corn on the cob or grilled chicken is an excellent match, while a Provence bottle alongside a watermelon-feta salad or shrimp cocktail is equally well-placed.
Some great bottles to start with include The Beach by Whispering Angel, Gérard Bertrand Côte des Roses, Whispering Angel from Château d’Esclans, and Mirabeau Pure from Maison Mirabeau. These wines offer a range of styles and flavors and are a great introduction to the world of rosé.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
