Rosé; so much more than White Zinfandel

 Most people when thinking of rosé wine immediately channel their inner Sutter Home or Franzia. But I assure you there is some amazing rosé wine out there you may not have even heard of before. And some, you will not believe your eyes when I tell you that it absolutely is a rosé.

Rosé from Tavel

 Now, spare me the hogwash that you do not like sweet wines or scoff at me with your uppity personality that rosé is for grannies or pretentious old yacht owners. Oh no no no, rosé is some of the most versatile wines you will ever taste. Ever hear of Brosé? Yes, rosé is for all.

Want a wine for summer BBQ?

Rosé

Want a wine for Chinese dinner?

 Rosé

Want a wine to go with a heavy Friday fish dinner?

Rosé

Want a late-night snack of potato chips?

You guessed it, rosé

Rosé could honestly be served with almost anything and pass the taste test.

It is a blend of a refreshing white wine, with a hint of tannin and body. For those easing into red wine, it works perfectly. For those looking for an excuse to start drinking at noon, it works. Whatever your reason to dabble in this famous pink drink, I promise you, it most likely works.

White Zinfandel

Most individuals think of California when it comes to rosé. More specifically, the “white” Zinfandel version of rosé, but let me tell you how “white” Zinfandel came to be and how it drives me crazy that I even need to say “red” Zinfandel when I am referencing Zinfandel itself.

 In 1972, a winemaker was attempting to make a fuller, bolder Zinfandel white also making a rosé that was akin to those in France. A few years into this process, fermentation on the pink stuff got “stuck” and voila, white Zinfandel was born.

During normal fermentation, the yeasts eat sugar which in turn releases alcohol. When fermentation gets “stuck” this typically means that the process of yeast eating sugar was halted. Yeasts die off and the sugar remains. So, what was left for this winemaker was a sweet, pink drink and again, “White” Zinfandel was born.

The issue? “White Zinfandel” popularity exploded and it is arguably one of the most popular wines Nowadays, many non-enthusiast have little to any knowledge about Zinfandel wines. So typically, when one references Zinfandel, most immediately think of White Zinfandel when I assure you, Zinfandel, by its own right is one hell of a grape variety.

Location

California is also not the mecca for rosé and most would argue that Provence, France is. Located in the southeast of France, most would recognize the cities of Nice or Cannes –yes, the film festival as being major geographic hubs the of the region. Provence is also located south of the Rhône Valley, west of Italy and east of Monaco.

But, when talking rosé, you are not doing any justice to the juice if you do not mention Tavel. Tavel is a small region in southern Rhône (just north of Provence) that, by law, is 100% rosé-styled wine. These rosé wines are by far the reddest pink rosé wines you will ever see. So red, you may have a hard time calling it rosé but I assure you, they are rosé. The fruit, the floral and the tannins found in this style is spectacular. Dry, but with acidity to make it still that summer, poolside wine.

Rosé from Provence (two on left) and Tavel (two on right)

Though it can be hard to find in your local grocery mart or maybe your local wine store. Most wine stores will have representatives that can order you a bottle or two. In fact, the price-point on a good Tavel is around $20. A price worth trying.

Price

 In fact, almost all rosé style wines can be found from $10-30 max. Because these wines are fermented and bottles rather quickly, the overhead is low. They spend little to no time being oaked and cellared, so the cost is merely labor and equipment to make, bottle, ship and then sell.

So if it is a crisp, dry, amazingly flavorful wine you desire, check out the rosé style wines. They fit almost every occasion and encompass almost every desire. They tend to  carry a bad rap because of an accident 50 years ago when someone was trying to make a bolder Zinfandel. I mean Bob Ross made plenty of “happy accidents” but it does not mean we discount the entire oil and canvas profession does it?

 No way rosé