Rose has been all the rage lately – and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re definitely missing out! Some people don’t believe that it can possibly live up to all the hype that it has received in the past couple of years, but we totally believe that it’s not just hype and rose is here to stay. Some people also think that rose is just a “pretty wine” that is meant to be posted in curated social media posts instead of actually enjoyed. But rose is a very real wine that’s sophisticated, delicious, and perfect for any occasion!
What Is Rose?
Rose is a type of wine that is made by the same grapes as traditional red wine – just with a different production process. During production, rose wine experiences less skin contact with the skins of the grapes through a process called maceration. Red grapes are juiced and continue to soak alongside their skins for up to two days before the skins are removed from the mixture. So instead of yielding a dark red wine like cabernet, merlot, or even pinot noir, you get a lighter colored wine that has more of a pretty pink color. However, there is a wide range of shades of pink that you can get from making rose and it all depends on how long the skins are left inside the juice.
Rose can either be a blended wine made with a variety of different grapes or it can be made with only one type of grape. In any case, some of the most common grapes used to make rose include Grenache, Syrha, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault, or Cabernet Sauvignon. All of these grapes have their own distinct tastes so different types of rose can taste vary a lot in taste.
Where Does Rose Come From?
Rose is made all over the world – especially these days when it’s enjoying mega popularity. However, most of the world’s rose is produced in France – which is really no surprise considering how well-known France is for its wine varieties. Specifically, French rose production usually occurs in the Provence region and utilizes a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Syrah grape varieties. Rose wine from this region is considered the best of the best and therefore requires a higher price tag when compared to other types of rose produced elsewhere.
In addition to France, rose is also produced in other European countries like Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Portugal. Outside of Europe, rose is produced in California, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Each country typically has its own flavor and color associated with rose – so it’s always a good idea to try them all to find your favorite kind.
What Does Rose Taste Like?
Rose is a great happy medium between red wine and white wine. It’s great for summer since it’s lighter than your traditional red wine and has a brighter and crisper taste with fruity flavors like strawberry, honeydew melon, citrus zest, rose petals, or rhubarb. Depending on where the rose was made, it could be dry or sweet. Overall, it seems that dry roses come from Europe whereas roses that are sweeter are produced outside of Europe. So based on your own wine preferences, you can find a variety that suits you and suits your meal plans as well!
What to Pair With Rose?
When it comes to planning a meal while drinking rose, there are several things to keep in mind:
- Lighter foods should be paired with lighter rose varieties.
- On the other hand, rich foods are able to be paired with dry rose varieties.
- Sweet rose wines can be paired with spicy foods to help offset the heat in the food with the crispness and sweetness in the wine.
Overall, the flavor variety of rose makes it difficult to provide a sure-fire list of great combinations. However, with a little taste test and research on your end about the specific type of rose, you will be able to create a perfectly curated meal.
How to Serve Rose?
Chilled rose might just be the best refreshment on a hot summer day. You can either chill the bottle directly at 50 to 60° F or you could try a rose canned drink instead if you are looking for something more convenient, smaller, and portable.
With all the different varieties of rose out there, you are bound to find one that you love. No matter your wine tastes – if you prefer red, white, dry, sweet, or anything in between, there’s a rose out there that was practically made for you! Rose has experienced a jump in popularity in recent years for a reason – because it’s amazing! So go ahead and try it out for yourself, we promise that once you find the right one that you will have no regrets.
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