Many years ago, I gave a presentation on rosé wines to the BC Guild of Wine Judges. I titled it, Rosé: The Rodney Dangerfield of Wines – “I don’t get no respect”. But a lot has changed since then and changed for the better, especially in BC.
In BC we are blessed to have a wide range of rosé wines to choose from and they are made from just about any grape you can name and most of them tend to be dry. In my opinion, they are best made from the juice of red grapes, though some of the white/red blends can be quite delightful.
Have you noticed how versatile rosé wines can be? Yes, they are crisp and refreshing on the patio and a must-have on-hand wine throughout the summer, but I tend to keep a good supply of them throughout the year.
Often lower in alcohol, rosés make ideal luncheon wines. Colours can range from just the slightest hint of pink, through dark pink to medium cherry red. Even a tinge of orange can be found in some. Stylistically and in weight, rosé wines tend to mimic white wines more than reds, making them best enjoyed chilled. Ideally, any rosé should offer the flavour of fresh grapes in a clean wine with a refreshing cut of acidity and little tannin.
Rosés for holiday wines? Absolutely. Greet guests with a lovely festive glass of pink. Slightly off-dry, fruit-forward examples are perfect social wines and patio sippers, enjoyable even without food.
This style of wine can be made in five different ways.
- Blending white and red wines.
- Crushing red grapes and allowing them to macerate briefly before fermentation.
- Pressing whole bunches of grapes, then fermenting the free-run and lightly pressed juice without skins, a European method resulting in very pale wines.
- Fermenting crushed grapes and juice together for one to three days before removing the free-run juice.
- Fining red wine heavily to remove tannins and stripping colour with active carbon, often resulting in poorer quality wine.
Rosés pair wonderfully with a wide range of foods, from salads and charcuterie to salmon, sushi, seafood, ham, chicken, and turkey. They also complement BBQ Italian sausages, grilled burgers, pizza, and more. Perfect for picnics, these wines are incredibly versatile.
With so many great BC rosé wines available, these all-purpose wines can be enjoyed year-round. Stock up at your favourite winery and explore new ones as well. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality.
(All photos – Sam Hauck)
