Mother’s Day Rosé

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, what better time to delve into the world of Rosé? You may have heard the endless amounts of Rosé slang—Rosé All Day and Slay Then Rosé, to name a couple. However, not many people know what Rosé actually is. Yes, it’s wine, but questions abound!

Why is it pink?

For the longest time, Rosés were a very pale pink. They had the slightest hint of coloring and were usually from the South of France. Rosés have come a long way since then. They now come in an array of pink shades. So, how does it get that beautiful hue?

All wine gets its color from the skin of the grape. Red wine comes from red grapes, but white wine can come from red or white grapes. This is because if they don’t allow contact with grape skin during the wine making process there would be no color, giving you white wine. So Rosé wine is just wine that has much less skin contact during the wine making. To be precise, Rosé wine touches red grape skins for around 2 to 20 hours. That’s what gives it such varying degrees of color.

Is it all sweet?

I get this question all the time and you can thank White Zinfandel for that. In the 1970s, White Zinfandel was created to help California move through excess Merlot they couldn’t move. Most Rosé you see at your local store comes from France, specifically the Provence region in Southern France.  These wines are light-bodied and semi-dry with notes of fresh strawberries.  They pair perfectly with salads, fresh fruit and light cheeses.

Is it just for summer months?

The misconception that Rosé should only be imbibed when it’s warm outside is one I hear the most. So I’m giving you the go ahead to enjoy this tasty beverage all year long! Many people aren’t aware of just how versatile Rosé can be for pairing. For example, one of my favorite Rosés right now is Greetings Rose. This beautiful Rosé from Oregon is 100% Pinot Noir, which pairs so well with an array of food like poultry (hint: the ultimate pairing for Thanksgiving!) and root vegetables.

Another great Rosé that I‘m crushing right now is Vina Zorzal Rosé. This beautiful Rosé is organic and produced by a small family from Navara, Spain. The 100% Garnacha lends itself to everyday pairings such as tacos, stuffed peppers and chicken kebabs. Garnacha is one of the top varietals used in Provence Rosés so give it a try if you love those dry pale pink beauties from the south of France.

Now that you’ve got the goods on Rosé, step out of the box, grab this tasty pink beverage, and celebrate Mother’s Day with the one you love—virtually, of course, if need be!

Amy McIntosh
Liquor Barn-Party Mart
Private Label Wine and Spirits Buyer