My infallible iPhone weather app promises me that temperatures shall reach blistering levels this weekend (for the UK). Cue mass rush on rosé – it’s time to think pink!
But how much do you really know about the pink stuff? And are you a rosé avoider?
If you are then I completely sympathise, because rosé is perhaps the most misunderstood of wine styles. But if you’d like to meet the five pink bottles you should be drinking this summer and see them put paid to the top five misleading rosé myths, then read on…
MYTH 1: Rosé is a blend of red and white wine
TRUTH: This is the king of all rosé falsehoods! And I do get it, because rosé is pink and all, but blending red and white wine is in fact a rare and frowned upon way of making rosé. It has been banned completely in the EU (apart from Champagne) and is now only used for cheap, fruity New World rosés. To set the record straight, the majority of rosé is made with red wine grapes, which have natural pigments in their skins that dye the juice on contact, giving the wine a mesmerising pink colour. A particularly delicious example is Marks & Spencer’s English Pinot Noir Rosé 2014 (£13.00), which is made by the Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey with 100% Pinot Noir grapes. This rosé offers bundles of crushed red berry and parma violet aromas, followed by a mouth-watering, rounded finish.
MYTH 2: All rosé is sweet
TRUTH: Absolutely not, thank heavens. Like white wine, rosé can range from bone-dry to off-dry to sweet. As the UK currently has a dry tooth, it is easier than ever to avoid the sickly sweet versions that gave rise to this myth. Step away from the blush and venture to Provence, where the winemakers are so serious about making world-class rosé that producing sweet examples is forbidden! This is your key destination for bone-dry beauties like the Château de Berne Rosé 2014 (£14.99 or £9.99 if you buy 2 until 3rd August, Majestic), which is achingly pale and classy, with lifted citrus aromas and a sleek, dry finish.
MYTH 3: Rosé is difficult to pair with food
TRUTH: For a long time rosé has remained the wallflower at dinner parties, stuck in a junior ‘aperitif’ role and making a tragic token appearance on restaurant wine lists. I have friends who can slap together Sancerre and goat’s cheese with incredible savoir-faire, but remain completely stumped when it comes to pairing pink. This is a wasted opportunity, as rosé is now acknowledged as one of the most versatile food pairing wines out there! Both refreshing and structured, it can complement a whole gamut of dishes and cuisines. Marks & Spencer’s Jewel of Nasik Zinfandel Rosé 2014 (£7.00 or 2 for £12.00 from 7th July to 3rd August) was designed to set off the powerful flavours of Indian curries and has juicy strawberry flavours and a refreshing hit of acid that lights up tandoori tiger prawns. For another genius pairing, enjoy Provence rosé with Asian cuisine or sushi.
MYTH 4: Rosé is just for summer
TRUTH: Sipping a chilled glass of rosé in the sun, on a beach, wearing a big silly hat is an experience that verges on the spiritual for me. That I cannot deny. However, true rosé lovers know that you can drink pink all year round! Not only because rosé is a food pairing chameleon (see Myth 3), but also because it comes in such a range of depths. Rosés that have longer contact with the grape skins during winemaking develop a deeper colour and also take on more tannin, weight and structure, making them perfect companions for chillier weather. Meet Sainsbury’s Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2014 (£6.00), a moreish, red cherry laden, spicy Autumn rosé that is superb value to boot. Forget the salads; this rosé has a richness that can take on meat, in October and beyond.
MYTH 5: Rosé is just for girls
TRUTH: Boys, if you believe this myth, you seriously need to have a chat with Stephen Cronk, who will set you straight with one sip of his delicious Mirabeau Rosé 2014 (£9.29, Watrose & Ocado). Stephen ditched his city job and moved to Provence to produce this stunning wine, and he is a true champion of the Provençal ‘art de vivre’ (i.e. everyone should enjoy rosé, with everything, at every gathering of any sort). I’m all for a wholehearted UK adoption of this lifestyle, and the Mirabeau Rosé is a fab place to start. Classically pale and aromatic, it has delightfully piquant red fruit flavours and a sumptuous finish.
These are just five of my favourite rosés, but the wine aisles are now full of beautiful pink bottles that do their bit towards debunking the top five rosé myths. Here’s to seeking them out and seeing the world through rosé tinted spectacles from this day forth.
Cheers!
