How to choose a good rose wine? Rosé is a summer hit Rosé drinks

All types of rose wine are obtained from red grape varieties. But such a delicate color of this drink is due to the fact that the contact of the pulp with the grape must is too short. The shade of the drink can be very different - from salmon to rich cherry. By the way, even Louis XIV, considered one of the main connoisseurs, preferred pink wine.

This drink began to be produced in the 15th century, but it began to gain popularity only in the 19th century. Despite the relative complexity of the technology for producing rose wine, it is loved by many winemakers due to its light taste and varied aroma. The bouquet of taste of rose wine is more reminiscent of white, while its color is close to red. Young rose wine is considered better in taste than aged wine. Therefore, it is recommended to drink it within two years after bottling.

You will learn about how rose wine is made and which brands are considered the best in this material.

How rose wine is made: technology and production regions

How does wine turn pink? Thanks to special production technology.

Soaking:

• The grape must is aged with the skins on (as for red wines).
• The juice is separated from the skin.
• Further processing of the must is carried out as for white wine.

Direct pressing:

• Black grapes are crushed.
• The juice turns color quickly.
• The grapes are pressed.
• Further processing of the must to make rose wine is done in the same way as for white wine.

Distinctive features.

Rose wine has many styles. It can be single-varietal, but more often it is produced from a mixture of several grape varieties. Rose wine is a great thirst quencher. It is served only chilled. It goes well with almost any dish, including fish, meat, light snacks, cheeses and desserts. One can only marvel at the versatility of rose wines.

Regions of production.

Today, French Provence is considered the center of production of good rosé wine.

About a third of the world's volume of this drink is produced in this region. In addition, rosé wine is produced in large quantities in French regions such as Burgundy and Bordeaux, as well as in Italy, Portugal and Spain.

"The King of Rose Wines"

This is the name of the Tavel appellation on the right bank of the Rhone. Only rose wine is produced here. It has a rich color and a noticeable level of tannins. The main grape varieties used for this rosé are Grenache and Cinsault. Tavel's drink was served at Versailles under Louis XIV. Balzac considered it the best rosé wine in France, and Hemingway called it his favorite wine.

Since the 2000s interest in drinks from the French “capital of rosé wines” is returning.

Regions where the best rosé wines are produced:

• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Other wine regions

What does rose wine look like and what determines its color?

What determines the color of wine:

• Contact time of juice with grape skins
• Wine aging time
• Grape sort

Basic colors of rose wine:

• Onion peel color
• Salmon color
• Orange
• Orange pink
• Light pink
• Pink
• Crimson
• Strawberry
• Cherry

See what rosé wine looks like in these photos:

This is important to know!

A drink obtained by mixing red and white wine is not considered a natural still rose wine. This method is used only to produce certain types of pink sparkling wine.

The taste of light and strong rose wine

Light rose wines.

Light rosé wines are wonderfully refreshing and typically have bright fruit notes and a hint of acidity. As a rule, they are obtained by direct pressing of black grape fruits. Main grape varieties: cabernet franc, cinsault, grenache, carignan.

Strong rose wines.

Strong rosés have less acidity than lighter varieties and are fuller in body. They are characterized by flavor notes of red fruits, sometimes with a spicy undertone. Strong rosé wines contain more tannins and are darker in color. In many cases, such wines are produced using the soaking technology.

Main grape varieties: Merlot, Mourvèdre, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Carignan.

To find out which rosé is the best, check out the description below.

The most delicious rose wine of different brands

White Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel, contrary to its name, is a rosé wine. Most often it is made quite sweet with rich fruity undertones. The wine is made primarily from the red Zinfandel grape, but Muscat and Riesling may be added to add sweetness and flavor. White Zinsrundelne is intended for long-term storage. It is customary to drink it young, when this wine reveals its flavor notes to a greater extent.

Characteristics:

• Sweetness 6\10
• Acidity 4\10
• Strength 4\10
• Body size 8\10
• Fruitiness 8\10

Serving temperature - 12 °C.

The average aging period is up to 1 year.

The average cost is $5-20.

Production region:

• California, USA

• Fruits: pear, pineapple, grapefruit, melon, orange, peach
• Spices and herbs: nutmeg, cloves, vanilla
• Berries: raspberries, blackberries, cherries, cranberries, strawberries, cherries
• Other: candied apples, minerals

Story.

The first rosé wine from the Zinfandel grape variety was made in 1869 in California. The resulting drink was of such high quality that some winemakers advocated using zinfandel to make white wine in the future, but this proposal was not implemented. In the 70s XX century White wine began to gain popularity. American winemakers growing black Zinfandel grapes did not want to lose a valuable market and began to produce a delicate pink wine from them, called White Zinfandel.

Production technology.

To produce White Zinfandel, the maceration method is used, in which part of the grape juice is drained after brief contact with the skins and aged for 6-12 months. The drink turns out to be a soft pink color with a sweet bouquet without the heavy notes that are typical of red wines.

Americans' Choice.

White Zinfandel has become one of the most popular wines in the United States thanks to its rich fruity notes and low price. According to its main producer, Sutter Home, every tenth bottle of table wine that Americans open is White Zinfandel.

White Zinfandel goes well with pasta with creamy sauce, fish and pork. Thanks to its light refreshing notes, this wine is also a good gastronomic pairing for fruit salads. The drink is not served too cold, only from the refrigerator. It needs to warm up a little to fully reveal its soft flavors.

Cotes de Provence Rose.

Many rosé wine connoisseurs call Côte de Provence Rose the best wine of the French Provence region. Indeed, it is one of the standard samples and is distinguished by its radiant color, elegant taste and delicate bouquet. An average of 800,000 hectoliters of Cote de Provence Rose is produced per year, the best examples of which can be tasted mainly in France.

Main grape varieties:

• Grenache
• Carignan
• Sanso
• Mourvedre
• Tiburan
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Characteristics of rose wine Cotes de Provence:

• Sweetness 5\10
• Acidity 6\10
• Strength 6\10
• Body 6\10
• Fruitiness 10\10

Serving temperature - 10-12 °C.

The average aging period is 3-4 years.

The average cost is $30-60.

A glass narrowed at the top for aromatic wines.

Production region:

• Cote de Provence, France

Taste and aroma associations:

• Exotic fruits: lychee, pomelo, guava, papaya, pineapple
• Garden fruits: white peach, plum, melon, peach, pear
• Plants: freesia, rose, mimosa
• Berries: cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red currants, strawberries
• Citrus fruits: lemon zest, orange, grapefruit
• Other: marshmallows, minerals, candied fruits, candied oranges, vanilla, macaroons, toasted bread, marshmallows, fruit candies

Features of the region.

Côte de Provence is the largest appellation of the Provence wine region, located in the south of France. It covers more than 20,000 hectares devoted to vineyards. The vast majority of Provence rosé wines are produced here. A sunny climate, dry and windy weather is best for growing grapes. According to ancient winemaking techniques, in Provence each grape variety is aged separately.

This practice provides the perfect balance of acids, alcohol and tannins.

Production methods.

Most winemakers use temperature-controlled metal tanks to produce Cote de Provence rosé wine. This is considered to be more suitable for light rosé wines. However, some winemakers have begun to introduce unconventional methods for producing this drink. They use aging in oak barrels, which produces rosé wines with a richer flavor and fuller body.

Cote de Provence Rose goes well with a variety of appetizers: fresh goat cheeses, shrimp in honey with ginger, meat carpaccio, ham. In addition, this rosé wine makes an excellent gastronomic pairing with fish, pizza, white meat dishes and salads.

Rose d'Anjou.

Rose d'Anjou is home to the Loire Valley in France. This is a pleasant, refreshing wine with a light fruity aroma, a sweetish, fresh taste and a long aftertaste. It has a beautiful pink color with a silver tint. Rose d'Anjou was very popular in the second half of the 20th century. At the end of the 1980s. it accounted for almost 55% of all wine produced in the Anjou region. However, today its production volumes are steadily declining, as other rosé wines of the region compete with Rose d’Anjou.

Main grape varieties:

• Grollo
• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Malbec

Characteristics of rose wine of the Rosé d'Anjou brand:

• Sweetness 4\10
• Acidity 6\10
• Strength 6\10
• Body size 8\10
• Fruitiness 10\10

Serving temperature - 8-10 °C.

The average aging period is 1-2 years.

The average cost is $5-15.

A glass narrowed at the top for aromatic wines.

Production region:

• Loire Valley, France

Taste and aroma associations:

• Fruits: banana, tangerine, peach, pomegranate, orange, grapefruit, quince
• Plants: rose, regional characteristics mint, eucalyptus.
• Berries: strawberries, red currants, black currants, blackberries, cherries, gooseberries, raspberries, wild strawberries, lingonberries
• Seasonings and spices: white pepper, black pepper, cinnamon,
• Secondary odors: minerals, fruit candy, chalk, vanilla ice cream
• Other: caramel, cream, raspberry sorbet, marmalade

Features of the region.

The Anjou region is located in the west of Touraine. The total area of ​​vineyards is 14,500 hectares. The basis of production is rose wines. They are produced in an average annual volume of 360,000 hectoliters.

Production stages.

1. Grape harvest at peak ripeness.
2. The grape skin aging method is used to impart the pink color.
3. Fermentation in steel vats at 13°C.
4. Bottling.

"Straw" wines.

When describing this rosé wine from the Anjou region, it is worth noting that it is sometimes called “straw”, as they are made using the technology of withering grapes under the sun

Other wines from the Anjou region:

• Cabernet d'Anjou is a semi-dry, often quite sweet rose wine made from cabernet grapes.
• Cabernet de Saumur is a dry, delicate rose wine.
• Rose de Loire is a dry rose wine made from Cabernet, Grolleau, Côte and Gamay grape varieties.

Quality mark.

Rosé d'Anjou wines can be labeled Primeur or Nouveau. This means that they have a pronounced fruity taste and contain almost no

The soft, refreshing taste of Rose d'Anjou makes it an excellent gastronomic pairing for meat dishes, salads, light snacks, fruits, seafood and fish. In addition, it is one of the most delicious rose wines and can accompany any dessert and light cheeses.

Spring is a state of mind. When the day gains momentum, grass breaks through the dry leaves that have fallen in autumn, and the sun's rays warm the air, somewhere in the wine cellars of Provence such an unusual and exquisite rose wine is ripening. It has gained high popularity on hot days due to its lightness, freshness and unobtrusiveness.

Rose making process

It is worth noting that rose wine is in no way made by mixing red and white wine. This is an erroneous myth that has been spread throughout the world by “professionals” who know nothing about wine. Light pink wine is obtained from dark grape varieties. There are two production processes that produce a liquid of delicate shades.

The first, more popular method is maceration. The dark grape variety is pressed and releases its juice. The further process is similar to making red wine. The only difference is that when making Bordeaux, the must is left to sit on the pulp (pressed mixture) for weeks, while when making rosé, only a few hours are enough. During infusion, an enzyme is released from the grape skins, which colors the juice from pale pink to rich salmon color.

The second method is widely used in the production of top quality wines. It is more labor-intensive and time-consuming, but the result lives up to all expectations. It is based on natural physical processes. Under the influence of their own weight, the berries immersed in a special container release juice, which flows into another bowl. The wort turns out to be a pleasant, slightly pinkish tint and has a distinct, special taste.

Winemakers who produce wines of pink shades are truly considered masters and artisans. After all, the time when the wort needs to be separated from the pulp is a very important moment. If you miss it, the drink will lose all its wonderful properties: it will be too pale or, on the contrary, dark.

Geography of pink temptations

Most rosé wines are produced in France in a place called Provence. The most popular of these is Tavel wine, which was the favorite drink of Louis 14th and has been produced since the 15th century. The soil in this region is rocky, which allows water to reach the roots of the vines and thoroughly nourish them with all the beneficial elements. The presence of large amounts of iron gives the grapes a bright earthy hue. In addition to French Provence, some regions of Spain, Austria, Italy and the USA produce rosé wines on the world market.

Rosé wine is generally best drunk chilled. Its taste is so light and unforced that it quenches thirst well on a sultry hot day in the Mediterranean.

Champagne - pink champagne (the production of which we will talk about below) has not yielded its primacy to any manufacturer for many decades. You can buy champagne in our wine store.

Anjou - Loire Valley. A small cozy place not far from the city of Saumur. Wine is produced here from the red Grollo grape variety, together with five varieties approved by France. These wines are slightly sweet and very pleasant to the taste. It is worth noting another type of Cabernet'Anjou - a popular semi-dry one and mainly consumed by young people. It also has a sweetish tint and is produced from Cabernet grapes.

The Alsace vineyard stretches over 180 km in northeastern France. It offers the whole world sparkling wine Crémant d'Alsace, produced from Pinot Blanc, Riesling or Pinot Noir grapes.

As for Spanish rosé wines, the Navarra wine region has gained dominance here. Today it has about 41 hectares of vineyards. Rosé wine Castillo de Tiébas, aged 5 years, has a bright fruity taste and is produced from the Garnacha grape variety.

Also among popular Spanish producers is Viña Sarda wine, aged in an oak barrel. It is made in the province of Pendes by the company Bodegas Sarda. It has a mature, velvety taste, balanced and harmonious.

Rosato is a light and fresh rose wine produced in Italy. Its popularity is growing rapidly day by day, but has not yet caught up with French wines. The Pinot Grigio variety produces an equally popular rosé called Romato. Its peculiarity is the rich copper hue obtained from the light red skin. The centers of Italian wine production are considered to be Alto Adige, Apulia, Abruzzo, Tuscany, Campania and the vineyards around Lake Garda. You can buy pinot grigio in our wine store.

Central Italy is famous for its Tuscany region. A picturesque area with a mild climate favorable for growing grapes and producing rosé wines. The most popular of them, produced from the Montepulciano grape in Abruzzo, combines the aftertaste of berries and rose petals.

The Veneto region in the northeast of the country is famous for its fizzy Prosecco. Many people know that this is a white wine, but in Veneto they began to add red Merlot to sparkling wine, getting a light pinkish tint.

The winemaking of southern Italy deserves special mention. Growing vines on the slopes of Vesuvius, Campania gained great popularity thanks to the dry wine Greco di Tufo, considered the oldest in the world. It has a bright active taste and fruity aroma.

Wines from the USA and South America are loved by connoisseurs of rosé on all continents. The most wine-producing state here is California. Crimson-colored wines are made from Cabernet Sauvignon. They have a semi-sweet taste and a light pale pink tone.

White Zinfandel is considered one of the most mysterious and popular wines of the new world. This is a true American grape variety that has suffered many denials and proofs throughout its history. There was a period when people argued that it was brought from Italy and even found DNA similarities with the Italian variety of Puglia. But then it was proven that they have no relationship, and Apulia was brought from Croatia. It came to the USA from Vienna, and at one time it was brought there from Hungary. The variety has become popular as black, fertile and strong. The main boom of wines occurred in the 50s of the 19th century, albeit red ones. It was only in 1972 that Bob Trinchero decided to improve the red wine and drained some of the juice from the pulp, confident that the small amount remaining in the barrel would produce a stronger and darker drink. The drained juice remained in the bottles, fermented a little and the result was a light pink semi-sweet drink with some carbonation. Trinchero bottled it and sent it to market. Within a year, he managed to sell 25 thousand cases, and the interesting wine was called “blush”.

Argentina produces a large amount of wine domestically. The vineyards located on the western side of the Andes spread over 200 thousand hectares. Mendos has been the center of wine production for many years. Light red shades of Criolla and Ceresa wines dominate here. As well as pale red drinks with low alcohol content - Ugny Blanc and Muscat d'Ambourg.

The Central Valley of Chile is famous for the prestigious Malpa region. The taste of Chilean rosé wines is not at all similar to traditional European tones. It is independent and very bright, and its shade varies from pale to rich colors.

In addition to the world's main producers, rose wine is produced in almost all regions of Europe, Australia, Morocco, and also in Tashkent. German rosé sparkling wines are produced under the Weißherbst label. Their taste is fresh and elegant, and fits very well with the unique cuisine of Germany.

Swiss rosé wine is produced under the Süßdruck label. Translated, the name speaks for itself - when produced, the grape juice is very sweet. In color, back in the 18th century, it was compared to the eye of the gray partridge (oeil de perdrix) - a pale pink tint.

Austrian rosé or Schilcher are not so popular, but they still exist. Portuguese wine Mateus is known for its cousin, port.

Wine Australia is famous for its winemakers. Determined masters received a quiet sparkling rose wine, which quickly gained popularity in the domestic and foreign markets. The Rhone Valley is famous for the Charles Melton company, which produces new, table and sparkling wines in pink tones.

The Kingdom of Morocco has been producing its own wines since ancient times. A special role was played by the Roman authorities, who ordered the uprooting of huge areas of vineyards in order to avoid competition. Today, the best rosé wines are produced in the north of the country. They have a piercing, pure pink color without any sediment. The country produces about 486 thousand hl of young rose wine per year.

The Tashkent region in Uzbekistan was not spared from the production of rose wine. It has received the widely known name – Parkent dry wine, as it is made from the Parkent grape variety. The color of the wine is from light pink to light red, the taste is harmonious and rich.

The main reason for this geographical division in the production of rosé wines was the main feature of the grapes grown there. After all, certain grapes that have a pure color are suitable for rose wine so that there are no impurities in the shades. Its acidity is also important - good acidity prevents a drop in alcohol content and has a bright fruity taste.

Distribution of rose wine consumption in the world

According to France Agrimer, the bulk of rosé wine produced goes to France (35%). Further, consumption was almost equally divided between the USA and other American countries (16% and 18%). European countries - Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK took 7% each. This is due to the small area and population. Russia took second to last place and consumes only 4% of the total rose wine produced worldwide (approximately 23 million hectoliters per year).

Rose wine: menu

Due to the low tannin content in the drink, the wine can be consumed cold (at a temperature of 11-13°C). It is perfect for the hot Mediterranean climate, quenches thirst well and has a bright taste.

Rose wine is a separate direction, it is not red or white, and especially not obtained by mixing two varieties. That is why it is considered universal; it can be served with both meat and fish. It goes well with seafood, vegetable dishes, fruit slices and salads. The ideal place for consumption would be an open terrace, a picnic, a boat trip on a table with white bread and an abundance of vegetables.

There are also notes of aristocracy in it - at a social reception, the wine will complement any delicacy: red caviar, stuffed quail eggs, and even fresh oysters and scallops.

Thanks to its slightly sweet taste and lightness, it can be an aperitif. It is often attributed to wines that will appeal only to women. But this statement is controversial. It matches the phrases that only men can drive a car well. Like red and white wine, some types of rosé will also appeal to men.

Today, the restaurant business is truly recognized as an art. All food exhibitions, chef performances, competitions, and world cuisine festivals are not complete without a high-quality drink - rose wine. It not only has bright taste characteristics, but also claims to be superior among its fellows.

Fusion is considered a recently opened fashionable trend in kitchen craftsmanship. This type of restaurant business combines the incongruous. That is why rose wine has gained wide popularity here as a separate type of grape drink, not adjacent to velvety reds and delicate whites.

It is believed that rose wine is best drunk young. The aging period should not exceed two years. This is exactly the time the drink needs to be filled with all the sweet notes of berries, fruits and floral aroma. What could be better than the bright summer heat, a snow-white terrace on the shore of the azure sea, a light glass of pink delicacy and an airy delicate dessert - unearthly bliss.

Doesn't strive for fame

For a long time, rose wines have been labeled. Many people talked about their counterfeit, suggesting that it was quite simple to make a drink by mixing white with red. Some called him frivolous for once, and among men it was generally believed that putting a pink bottle on the table was shameful and shameful. In the province of Champagne, there were ridiculous rumors that at dinner with his wife a man should put white wine on the table, but if he is dating his mistress, pink wine. Only one question arises here: why should a man give himself away with a drink in advance?

In difficult times for winemakers, when even the most famous and well-known brands were not sold in the markets, rose wine saved such a disastrous situation. A unique and unusual drink, at the same time not expensive in price, was bought as a highlight on a not rich, meager table.

Rose was not produced in mass quantities at that time, so it was considered a curiosity and a novelty. It was not produced by all commercial winemakers, but only by skilled craftsmen who knew a lot about it and put their whole soul into producing a soft pink shade of a light drink. They valued their recipes, passed down from generation to generation, clearly understood the recipe and believed that rose wine had its fans. Thanks to this approach and low popularity, the drink was not counterfeited and only genuine bottles were sold.

Today its popularity is growing every year. As mentioned above, rose participates in world haute cuisine festivals, which gives it even greater fame. Having overtaken red wines, rosé wine is now in second place after white in sales in France. Rose production has not been spared in the new world either, where it is also gaining momentum year after year. When you walk into a modern wine store, you can find rose wines from Austria, Chile, Great Britain, Croatia, Australia and many others.

Here the essence of the meaning of the “one night stand” stigma is revealed. The basis of this phrase is not the short-term use of the drink, which you will not want to try again, but the process of its production. To obtain a delicate pink tint, it is enough to soak the must on grape skins for three hours and then drain it. That is, it is possible to produce the drink in one night - hence its nickname.

The main properties of rose wines are pure color, bright taste with hints of berries and flowers, delicate soft aroma and drinkability.

Pink champagne - mix red and white

Pink champagne has always been considered something refined. It is perfect for social gatherings, and also harmonizes at a wedding, as a symbol of love and faith.

Real pink champagne is an expensive and rare drink that seems too unusual even for avid wine lovers. It has a unique color and a subtle, elegant taste that cannot be compared with anything else. Compared to ordinary champagne, the drink is denser, and the aroma resembles a mixture of wild strawberries, strawberries and raspberries. It is stored much longer than any white, and with age it only becomes more harmonious, acquires an oiliness and is combined with a wide range of gastronomy.

The history of pink champagne goes back centuries. Initially, wines with a natural light carbonation with the inscription “Dom Perignon” were produced in the province. When the laws on the production of champagne were approved in France, three grape varieties were allowed to be produced: Chardonnay (white), Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir (red).

Dispelling myths about wine, we can say that only some types of champagne allow you to mix a small amount of red wine with white. In the champagne-producing provinces, this process was called cuvée.

Depending on the amount of sugar or liqueur that was added to the drink during secondary fermentation, pink champagne is divided into dry (“brut zéro”), sweet (“doux”) or semi-sweet, semi-dry (“extra-dry”, “sec” and "demi-sec")

A real bottle of champagne contains 240 million bubbles. The glass for such a drink traditionally remains the shape of a flute with a high stem and a narrow cup. Thanks to this glass, bubbles will not come out of the drink and the aroma will be better felt when consumed.

Popular pink champagnes are :Andre Beaufort Brut Rose Grand Cru, Andre Clouet Rose, Baron de RothschildRose, Brut Rose Cuvee des Moines Besserat de Bellef, Armand de Brignac Rose and many others.

Symbolism of pink

Many people think that pink is a mixture of red and white. In fact, it contains orange, purple, lilac, brown and many other shades. If you mix the two ends of the rainbow - purple and red, you get a real, true, rich pink color. In physics it is called “absence of green”, this is due to the fact that if you remove the green tint from the spectrum and dilute all colors with white, you will get an excellent pink.

If we translate the word into English, we will see two options. The first is rose, like the color of pink clouds. And the second is pink, which in color is more like a reddish fuchsia. There is no limit to all the pink tones, they range from the color of an angel's wing to the color of a baysenberry. If we are considering rose wine, then the shade may be slightly pinkish or rich shrimp. The longer the bottle is aged, the more orange will be present in the shade of the drink.

Since ancient times, Catholics have personified the color pink as bringing joy, happiness and harmony. During Lent, Catholicism lights a pink candle as a symbol of purity. Pink is considered the main color in the image of the goddess Venus and Aphrodite. In Russia it is associated with love, romance and tenderness. From a psychological point of view, people who love the color pink are prone to adventurousness, adventure and feel like children.

The color of a smoky, sweetish rose suggests a delicate taste and light aroma. Peach tones symbolize more spicy, tart flavors, and the wine, closer to the lilac color, is no longer a pink dream, but a true Bordeaux.

In our store you can also buy dry wine.

French kings Philip IV and Louis XIV considered this drink a gift from God; in the 70s of the last century it was the best-selling drink in the United States. In France it is called "rosé", in America - "blache", and in Spain - "rosado". Rose wine is coming back into fashion, although in Russia this trend is not yet as noticeable as in the West.

Pink wine is a separate intermediate variety between white and red wines, produced using a unique technology. It is produced in almost all wine-producing countries, including Argentina, Chile and Australia, but the traditional suppliers of rosé wines are the regions of Provence, Lirac, Tavel (France), Rioja, Penedez, Ribera del Duero (Spain), California (USA).

Rosé wines are famous for the aroma of strawberries, grapefruit, raspberries, red currants, almonds, linden and even mown hay. They are easy to drink and quench your thirst. With their simple, neutral flavors, these wines are perfect for any occasion.

When producing rosé wine, red and white grape varieties are not used, as is commonly believed. By mixing the two types of juice, only pink champagne and imitations are made. True rose wine is made from red grape varieties. In one variation or another, two production methods are used:

1. Quick spin. When squeezing, the grape juice is not allowed to come into contact for a long time with the skin containing coloring substances. As a result, the juice is not red, but pink.

2. Maceration (soaking). The most common method. After pressing, the skins of the berries remain in the finished wort. When the desired color is achieved, the skins are removed and the wort itself is poured into another container for fermentation.

Further technology is similar to working with white varieties.

It is not customary to age rose wines for a long time; drinks aged 1-3 years are considered optimal. Be sure to read the label before purchasing. High-quality French rosé wines must bear the inscription: “Appellation... controle,” which indicates the name of the appellation (region with a unique microclimate and soil) where the drink was made.

Spanish rosé wines are labeled with the inscription: “Denominacion de Origen Calificada” or “Denominacion de Origen”, which indicates the region of production and strict quality control.

Drinks from all other producing countries do not have distinctive markings, so the trial and error method works here; you will have to try the products of several distilleries, and then choose the option you like.

How and with what to drink rose wines

• To enjoy these drinks, I advise you to remember the following:
• Serving temperature – 10-12 °C.
• Rose wines aged two years are considered optimal for the feast; this time is enough for the full development of their taste and aromatic characteristics.
• Fill tall glasses halfway with wine and drink in small sips, trying to catch all the notes.
• Appetizers for rose wines can be different dishes: red and white meat, fish, pates, fruits, etc.

A Beginner's Guide to the Philosophy and Culture of Rose Wine Drinking.

1. First and foremost: there is nothing wrong with preferring rose wine.

Rose wine, compared to its red and white relatives, is still subject to ridiculous criticism from snobs and wine amateurs. Rose wine haters either:

A) conservative and ignorant enough to think that "pink is only for girls" or

b) those who had the temerity to try White Zinfandel, or White Zin for short, at a young and impressionable age (a sweet, sugary parody of rosé wine, mass-produced and quite popular in the 1970s in California) or André rosé (essentially its champagne-flavored soda). Of course, there is poor quality rose wine, but not a single drink is immune from this.

2. A mixture of red and white wine is not rose wine.

The technology for producing most rose wine is that black grapes are lightly crushed and soaked for some time in their own skins (from several hours to several days), after which the juice is separated from the pomace (this is called must) and poured into tanks.

The longer the grape skins remain in the wine, the darker the rosé becomes.

...and thus its taste becomes deeper and more tart, approaching red wine. After all, the method of producing red wine is similar. Black grapes are white inside and therefore produce light juice, so this juice can be used to make wine of any color. The time the peels remain in the juice determines the color of the wine: white, pink or red.

The production of rosé wine is not tied to either grape variety or region of origin; it's just a type of wine, the same as red and white. The largest producers are France, Spain (where it is called “rosado”), Italy (“rosato”), and the United States of America. Also, excellent wine can be found among the wines of South America (Chile, Uruguay), Germany, Australia and many other parts of the world.

Most rosé wines are a blend of several grape varieties. Some of the most common grape varieties used in European dry/rosé wine are: Grenache, Sangiovese, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault and Pinot Noir.

4. This is the only way with rose wine: the younger it is, the fresher and more harmonious the taste.

Rosé wine, unlike red and Helen Mirren, doesn't improve with age - abandon the idea of ​​keeping it in the cellar for half a century. There's no shame in drinking a drink that says the previous year on the label. You should not drink (and most likely you will not find) wine dated earlier than two or three years ago.

5. The most important question to ask when buying rosé wine is: “Is it DRY?”

Dry = not sweet. This is what you need: a wine that tastes fresh with acidity, without excess sugar that overwhelms the mineral/fruity/or indeed any taste and aroma. Remember, rosé wine was originally brought into disrepute by the super-sweet White Zinfandel and its mass-produced siblings.

With so many different types of rosé wine produced around the world, the question of choosing a dry or sweet wine is much more important than its country of origin. But, if you're feeling completely confused in a liquor store, here's a general rule:

ROSE WINE IS FROM THE OLD WORLD (Europe) = WILL BE DRYER

ROSE WINE IS FROM THE NEW WORLD (anywhere else in the world) = WILL BE LESS DRY

While there are plenty of exceptions to this rule (California rosé wine can be super-thin and super-dry, and some European wines have higher sugar levels), the above method can be quite useful to help you decide at the wine store while you're in the area. complete confusion.

When in doubt, opt for France - especially Provence.

France is the birthplace of traditional dry rose wine (rosé - as the name suggests) and it is very difficult to get into trouble by choosing a wine from Provence, for example, the Rhone Valley or the Laura Valley. Provençal rosé (from southern France) is typically a very pale pink, sometimes salmon-colored. When tasting, notes of strawberry, raspberry and citrus are most often heard. If you want to find similar wine in stores, use the following instructions. There are several appellations (official names that certify that a wine was made in a specific region according to specific requirements) in Provence. You will immediately know where this wine comes from if you see one of the following names on the bottle label:

• Cotes de Provence
• Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
• Bandol
• Cassis
• Coteaux Varois

A great option if you don't like French wine is to opt for Spanish rosados. They tend to be a little tarter and richer than its French cousin, with a deeper pink color and a fruity aftertaste that pairs well with meat. In addition, it is less publicized and, as a result, will cost you less.

6. You shouldn't pay more than $15 per bottle.

Pink wine tends to be inexpensive, especially if you draw an analogy with red. These wines are young compared to those that mature for a long time, and are relatively cheap to produce. Rosé wine continues to be underappreciated in the United States due to its relatively affordable price compared to other French wine imports, which are quite expensive for American consumers. You'll find many decent options in the $10-$15 price range (or even cheaper if you're at a brick-and-mortar store). And if you decide to splurge on wines from the top shelf, don’t overpay more than $25 or $30 per bottle.

7. You can, or rather you should, drink it at a barbecue.

Trying to link wine to a certain food is an annoying cliché (like linking ketchup to a burger), but this is not entirely true with rosé wine. It is versatile because it falls between red and white wine - less intense than the deep, tart, astringent taste of red wine, but at the same time with more depth than super-light white wines.

This happy in-between flavor bouquet (and the fact that different types of rosé cover a wide range of flavors from bright and zesty to darker and richer) means you can almost always find a drink that matches whatever you're eating - be it fish, vegetables, chicken, grilled steak, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies. Just make sure you give it enough time to cool before drinking (just as you would with white wine).

This wine is not only ideal for barbecues, the beach and picnics, but it is also great for sitting in front of the TV.

8. You can, or rather you should, use it in making cocktails.

An exhausting heat has suddenly arrived in the central part of Russia and, apparently, will not go away until the end of August. The main refreshing drink of this season is, perhaps, rose wine: ideally summer, unpretentious, light and always ice-cold.

The secret of a good “rosé” is the ability to get into a kind of classless state, in every sense of the word. This is the art of being between categories - winemaking, gastronomic, social. The main thing to remember, no matter how much you drink: rose wine is not a mixture of white and red. The only rosés that are produced this way are the sparkling ones. All the rest are unfinished reds: shades of color are taken from the skin, the faster the grape juice is separated from the crushed berries, the less red the wine will be, up to almost transparent. As for the bouquet, quickly pressed grapes do not produce the same powerful aromas as in red (they also depend on the skin), but they cannot be called light either.

Because of this ostentatious flexibility, many view Rose with a slight mistrust, like a sophomore announcing her bisexuality on Facebook. To combat this reputation, over the last twenty years there has been a desperate attempt to make rosé expensive. Thanks to the efforts of, for example, the Château de Pibarnon estate or the winemaker with Russian roots, Sacha Lichine, it is now difficult for rosé to surprise at a price of a hundred euros per bottle.

Resort deception

Rose quenches thirst well; pink can be very cooled without fear that it will lose its “body”; pink goes with any food. Because of all this, rosé has become synonymous with resort life, and in its most classic form. For the last 150 years, Provence has diligently supplied the Côte d'Azur with its rosés; Languedoc rosés have been found there much less frequently, but no less have been drunk. And even before the start of the bourgeois resort boom, residents of the south of France knew everything about pink and made it for their own needs back in the Middle Ages. The Atlantic coast of the country did not lag behind in this sense, rather the opposite. The famous Bordeaux claret was originally a rose wine, and was drunk on both sides of the English Channel, especially during the times when Bordeaux was under British control. The wines of the Loire Valley, the most famous of them coming from Sancerre and Anjou, are a different story - they did not care about the experience of their neighbors, they aged their rosés in barrels without removing the sediment, which is why the wines turned out dense and very convincing.

The right places

France

Pinks from this country (and especially from Provence) continue to be the standard of style. “Grenache”, “Syrah”, “Mourvèdre”, “Carignan” - the main grape varieties for them - are not particularly elegant, but they behave well in combination with almost any appetizer.

Spain

Catalonia and the Basque Country don't count - the wine-making traditions there are almost French. In “real” Spain - in Rioja, Ribeira and Navarre - they make rosé from “garnacha”, which is the same as “grenache”. The first decent bottle of rosé you find on the shelf of the nearest store will most likely be Spanish.

Italy

The best rosés come from the “innocent” regions of the country. For example, in Umbria the only decent drink is pink cabernet sauvignon. There are no particularly outstanding rosés in the main wine regions of Italy.

California

White zinfandel - pink, despite its name - is often quite sweet and smells of a fruity, fruity base. If it were not for the high cost of transportation, the shelves of our stores would be filled with four-liter jars of this wine. A wine lover brought up on “Confession of a Sinner” would have received the “zines” with a bang.

Cold Blooded Murder

It is logical to assume that, in accordance with the native weather of the French south, rosé wine should be chilled as much as possible. But, as we already understood, all pinks are different - and cooling should be approached accordingly. Rosé Sancerre is more elegant and therefore should not be frozen to death, while very hard-frozen rosé Rioja may or may not reveal those very strawberry-raspberry aromas for which it is so loved. So it’s better not to get carried away and stay within 8-12 degrees Celsius - this will work for almost any pink.

How to cool yourself? Dropping bottles into the nearest body of water is a game with unpredictable results. Electric refrigerators are a solution to the problem, yes, but partly. There is also a cooling jacket with gel inside, which is put directly on the bottle, but this also needs to be cooled somewhere beforehand. Well, in the case of a large number of guests, you won’t be able to stock up on such shirts; this is more suitable for small picnic outfits. What remains is traditional ready-made ice, which should be stocked up in advance and in large quantities. And even if a piece of ice or two falls into the glass, it’s not the end of the world either. After all, there are people who put ice in rosé on purpose, and you shouldn't judge them too harshly. After all, initially pink is a simple wine, which means you need to drink it often, a lot and without undue reverence.

GQ's Pick: 5 Great Rose Wines

1

**M. Сhapoutier Beaurevoir Tavel 2010 **

Pure grenache, red copper in color, fruity and full-bodied, can cope with anything in the world - for example, with hot pies, even with meat, even with apples. He is not afraid even of gastronomic hardcore like Olivier salad.

2

"Abrau-Durso Imperial Сuvee Rosé brut"

Oddly enough, the only Russian rosé worthy of attention is sparkling; our quiet rosés are still impossible to drink. It is declared as an aperitif, but in fact it has more possibilities - it is textured enough to withstand the blow of any complex food, perhaps, except for desserts.

3

Domaines Ott Côtes De Provence Clos Mireille Rosé CŒur de Grain 2010

One of the brightest representatives of the new wave of Provencal pinks. In addition to the usual Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah varieties common in Provence, the wine also contains Cabernet Sauvignon. All the typical signs of classic “Provence”, but the volume of sensations is several times higher.

4

Muga Rioja 2010

One of the most elegant Spanish rosés, very French in spirit, despite the fact that the composition is entirely Spanish varieties. Fresh, with pale color, bitter-herbaceous notes and berry-fruity tones. However, quite laconic.

5

Jean-Max Roger Sanсerre Cuvée La Grande Dîmière 2009

The wine is pale copper in color, made from Pinot Noir, smells of apples and smoke, is fresh on the tongue, all the fruits like plums and cherries are successfully shifted somewhere in the aftertaste. Of all the roses, Sancerres are the most piercing and gastronomic.

Orange wine

A term sometimes applied to a wine made from white grapes using rosé techniques. Classic Georgian white and some Italian wines are made using this method.

What about a snack?

We have already realized that rose goes with everything and always, but there is still variability. The general logic here is this: the hotter the region the wine comes from, the more likely it is that the choice will lean towards food that is brighter in taste.

Provence

Bandol and other “Provence” go perfectly with fire-roasted vegetables and rich meat stew. The bitter-herbaceous notes of the bouquet can remain noticeable in any combination - even asparagus, which is deadly for most wines.

Spain and Italy

Deeply feminine in spirit, garnacha from Navarre is unthinkable without strawberry pie or cheesecake. The Italian ones play on approximately the same field, except for the powerful Sicilian rosés, which are more like pizza than sweets.

Laura Valley