Rose Wine
If you enjoy the taste and feel of red wine but would like a lighter flavor profile, it's time to delve into the wonderful world of rose wines.
How Rose Wines Are Made
Rose wine is found all over the world and is made from many types of red wine grapes. It comes in a wide range of flavors from light and sweet to rich and bold. Rose gets its salmon-pink color from the skins of red grapes. Instead of leaving the skins to ferment for days or weeks, as is the process for most reds, the skins are immersed for a short amount of time and then removed, imbuing the wine with a hint of red or a light pink glow. The skins of grapes have tannins that are responsible for the bitter and dry notes in red wine. With red wines, the lighter the color, the sweeter and lighter the flavor.
Varieties of Rose Wine
The most popular traditional sweet rose wines include white zinfandel, white merlot and blushes. They are light and crisp with a barely discernible hint of dryness. Mediterranean varieties offer a bold floral, fruity profile with delicious hints of citrus and spice. Provence roses have a very dry feel and are incredibly versatile in pairings.
Rose wine's delicate, nuanced nature makes it an exciting variety to try with a range of foods or as alone as an aperitif. Try pairing a different varietal with each course to experience the full range of flavors that rose holds.
