Rosé, the official wine of summer. This delicious beverage has gotten more and more popular as the years have gone by, with wine shops and restaurants touting the pink juice as soon as the air starts to turn warm and the days become long.
Unfortunately, with all our touting of rosé, we actually do the wine a disservice, lumping all rosés into the same category of pink wine. But all rosé are not alike, in fact, there are several different hues of pink out there, a different style of rosé for every occasion and for every taste. So which rosé should you choose?
Rosé From Provence
Don’t mess with the classics. If one rosé was responsible for launching outdoor drinking, it would be rosé from Provence. Whenever we are unsure of what rosé to choose, we always grab one from Provence, as this region has made rosé wine its bread and butter for decades. These wines have aromas of fresh red berries like strawberries and raspberries, and a refreshing acidity similar to lemonade on a hot summer’s day.
Pinot Noir Rosé From California
Fancy yourself a hipster? Well, one of the hippest rosés of the moment is American rosé made from Pinot Noir. This rosé smells of a summer picnic on the beach with the fruity aromas of fresh picked strawberries, cherries and even ripe watermelon. Dry and crisp, this is rosé is perfect for shellfish like oysters, shrimp and lobster.
Rosé From Rioja
Looking for an easy drinking fruity rosé for the BBQ? This is your BBQ rosé. Wines from Rioja are much darker in color than their Provence and Pinot Noir cousins, as they are made from the Garnacha grape. These rosés tend to be fruitier than the traditional rosés from Provence and will feel much fuller in your mouth as well.
A Hearty Italian Rosé From Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
Got a friend who won’t try rosé because they only drink red wine? Then this rosé is for them. Rosés from Montepulciano D’Abruzzo are dark pink, almost red in color, and taste more like a smooth light-bodied red, than a crisp refreshing white. These rosé wines are even labeled cerasuolo, which means “cherry red” in italian. Trust us, your red loving friend will dig it.
