Fans of “Schitt’s Creek”mayrecall the scene where David Rose (Dan Levy) famously says he enjoys what’s in the bottle, not what’s on the label. It turns out, that’s the ideal way to enjoy rosé, a wine known for its incredible variety. Rosés range from bone dry to very sweet, can be still or sparkling and are made from any varietal, anywhere, using several different methods.
“At the end of the day, rosé for me is about the color, not what it says on the label,” says Danya Degen, wine director at Méli Wine & Mezze in Washington, D.C. “The biggest difference is that it’s pink.” Even that characteristic is variable, however, with rosé wines showing up across a spectrum that would put the “Barbie”movie to shame. The one thing all rosés have in common? They’re easy-drinking summer wines, and there’s one to suit you, whatever your taste.
Types of rosé wine
So where does the pink come from? Rosé can be made one of several ways, explains Julie Dalton, master sommelier of Stella’s Wine bar at the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. The most common is to allow crushed grapes to rest in their skins or macerate, the same way red wine is made, but for a shorter period of time (typically less than 24 hours), so the wine gets only a blush of color. Similarly, grapes can be pressed for their juice without any maceration, which results in very pale rosés.
Another method is called “saignée,” which is French for “to bleed,” because that method involves “bleeding off” some red wine during fermentation and using that to make rosé.
You may also find some American-made rosés, usually sparkling wines, that are a blend of red and white wines, a practice that is illegal in the European Union.
Each method results in a slightly different style of rosé. Provencal style, which is made using the direct press method, is what was traditionally enjoyed in the south of France: very pale in color and easy drinking, with what Degan says is “much more depth and structure, and more potential alcohol, so more room for sweetness.” But, she adds, while tourism fueled an initial thirst for this style, people are now seeking out novelty, paving the way for new, darker styles.
How to pick a rosé wine
Typically, wine drinkers have a preference for specific varietals, like cabernet, pinot noir or even what Dalton refers to as “ABC” — anything but chardonnay. But while thin-skinned grenache is the most popular grape used to make rosé, most people choose rosé wine by its color. “In general, paler rosés with a higher alcohol content will be drier,” she says. Provencal styles are crisp and clean, and virtually indistinguishable from a sauvignon blanc.
As the color of a rosé deepens, the flavors tend to get bolder and more tannic. It can also help to look at the alcohol content of the wine; anything under 12.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) is likely to be on the sweeter side.
If you’re truly stumped, wine experts have plenty of opinions about the best bottles of rosé and, even better, they can be found at any price point. These expert picks will have you saying “yes way, rosé” all summer long (just don’t forget to pair them with food!).
This a light-bodied, crisp and floral bottle is easy to drink, pairs well with seafood and won’t break the bank says Sarah Tracey, sommelier at The Lush Life.
A real crowd-pleaser, this pale pink stunner is made in the Provencal style, with the winery set just northeast of St. Tropez. We love that even though it sips bone-dry, you still get a medium-body flavor, with berries and currants on the top taste.
The fruit-forward notes of this wine make it a luscious summer selection, Tracey says. It has notes of watermelon and peach.
Sparkling rosé goes with everything from ribs to popcorn, and can be a refreshing summer choice at a great price point, Tracey says.
The vast majority of rosé is meant to be drunk as fresh as possible, and this budget pick has a twist top for convenience, says Degan.?
If you’re looking for a splurge, we love this full-bodied hit of summertime. A complex, intense wine, it also happens to balance a subtle creamy vanilla with its tropical flavors. Keep this one close by when entertaining ones you love.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on a rose to get a good bottle,” Degan says. This salmon-colored bottle comes in?magnum for $64 so is great for a crowd.?
This under $20 pick is one of the best value sparkling rosés in the market.
If you drink with your eyes, this bottle is for you. “In the electric-hued category, this wine is a steal,” says Price. It’s also responsibly farmed and family-owned.
This mid-priced traditional French-style rosé is a classic." It’s made by the fifth generation of the family that invented the style of rosé in Provence in the late 1800's,” says Vanessa Price, sommelier and managing partner at Mavericks Montauk and Shark Bar in New York. “I can't think of an occasion I wouldn't have it any time of the year.”
