Rosé Craze

It's beginning to feel like spring! The flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. 
That means it's Rosé time! 

What makes this wine such a great choice for every wine drinker?
I believe that it has characteristics of both red and white wines. If you love the red fruits of the red wines but the crisp acidity of a white wine, why not choose a Rosé? The best of both worlds. 
It's a very versatile wine. It can go with just about any food!
[Some of my favorite pairings: BBQ, hard cheeses like Asiago and Parmesan, grilled chicken, melon fruits and shellfish.]
The price point is usually reasonable, I wouldn't spend more than $20 on a bottle. 
And last but not least, it's pretty! (Who wouldn't want to drink pink?!) 

What makes this pink wine pink?
There are a few different ways to make Rosé..
1. The Blending Method: When a little bit of red wine is added to the vat of white wine to make a pink color. 
2. Maceration Method: (Most common) When the skins of the red grapes come in contact with the wine for a short period of time. 
(*FUN FACT: The majority of grapes have clear juice! The skins make the color.)
3. Saignee Method: When making a red wine, some of the juice is bled off into a new vat before it's completely red. 

There are many different grape varietals that are used to make Rosé. Here are some common ones and some flavor profiles they have. 
-Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon are usually a darker pink color and more savory flavors. 
-Grenache and Sangiovese are usually a bright pink color and fruity. 
-Pinot Noir is delicate and fruity. 
Rosé's can be one grape varietal or multiple. 
Common flavor profiles for Rose in general are red fruits (strawberry, watermelon, raspberry), citrus fruits, floral notes and herbaceous notes. 

Top Rose Regions: 
#1 France: The godfather of Rosé. If you want a light, crisp and dry Rosé go with something from France. The top Rosé regions in France are Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon. The main grapes used in these regions are Grenache and Syrah. 

#2 Italy: In Italy, Rosé is called Rosato. They use many different grape varietals from various different regions within Italy. One of the common grapes used for Rosato is Sangiovese. 

#3 USA: The US just took Rosé to another level. They have used many different grape varietals to make Rosé. To this day, the largest Rosé production goes to White Zinfandel. White Zinfandel is usually considered semi sweet and it gave Rosé a bad rep for a little while. Many people thought that all Rosé was sweet, but they didn't know that the world was full of dry Rosé that tastes amazing!

#4 Spain: In Spain, Rosé is called Rosado. Tempranillo and Grenacha (Grenache) are the most common grapes used. Tempranillo will give you more of a meaty Rosado, and Grenacha will be more of a red grapefruit Rosado. 

I hope some of these tips can help you find your perfect Rosé. Remember, they don't have to be sweet! Such a big misconception when it comes to Rosé.
When in doubt, go for something from Provence, France. And do not spend more than $20 on a bottle. 

Here are some of my favorites: 
Bieler Pere et Fils Bandol Reserve Rosé (Bandol, France)
Chloe Rosé (Central Coast, California)
1+1=3 Cava Brut Rosé Seleccio (Cava, Spain)
Margerum Riviera Rosé (Santa Barbara, California) 
Babylonstoren Rosé (South Africa) -Thanks Red Wolf Imports for introducing this to me! (find my friends on Instagram, Facebook and check out their website at http://www.redwolfimports.com/) 
La P'tite Soeur (Languedoc-Roussillon, France)