{"id":880,"date":"2017-08-24T11:45:09","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T15:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marketviewliquor.com\/blog\/?p=880"},"modified":"2023-10-05T12:40:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T16:40:04","slug":"what-is-rose-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketviewliquor.com\/blog\/what-is-rose-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Ros\u00e9 Wine? Fun facts About Our Favorite Pink Wine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"What<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9 has been blowing up in popularity as of late \u2014 this often misunderstood and previously underappreciated pink wine has enjoyed mentions in rap songs and other media over the past few years. It\u2019s even become something of an Instagram star and summertime staple thanks to its current status as a millennial fave. It\u2019s affordable, refreshing and surprisingly sophisticated. Food-friendly and approachable, it\u2019s just as good on its own as it is when paired with salmon \u2013 making it an easy choice, especially in warm weather.<\/p>\n

Here is everything you need to know about how Ros\u00e9 wine is made, what it tastes like and even a few of our favorite Ros\u00e9-inspired cocktails.<\/p>\n

\"Ros\u00e9<\/p>\n

What Is Ros\u00e9 Wine?<\/h2>\n

Ros\u00e9 is a pink wine with the lightness of white wine\u00a0made from a variety of grapes.\u00a0The concept may be a bit confusing to the novice, as wines tend to fall into one category or the other, and leads to some skepticism from wine snobs and the pink-averse alike.<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9 can be a dry or sweet wine that tastes similar to many white wines and offers a bright, more refreshing flavor than its deep red counterparts, making it the perfect sunny day drink on a Sunday afternoon or when you\u2019re in the mood for something lighter.<\/p>\n

Unlike Champagne or Burgundy, Ros\u00e9 can be made with any grape from any region and is made all over the world \u2014 the United States, Spain, France, Italy, Australia and Chile all produce this type of wine.<\/p>\n

\"Ros\u00e9<\/p>\n

How Do You Make Ros\u00e9 Wine?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Contrary to popular opinion, Ros\u00e9 wine is not a blend of red and white grapes.<\/p>\n

Most of the time, Ros\u00e9 wine is made exclusively from red wine grapes. These grapes have red skins, but the insides are white, meaning you can create a broad range of wines ranging from white to deep red.<\/p>\n

The red wine grapes are slightly crushed before the fermenting process begins so the skins and the insides have some time to ferment together. Depending on the type of wine, this process can take as little as a few hours to several days.<\/p>\n

At this point, the juice, and the solid skins and seeds, which are known as the must, are separated, and the juice is placed into tanks for further fermentation. As you might imagine, the longer the skins sit in the grape juice, the darker the finished wine will be and the more tannic the flavor.<\/p>\n

In some rarer cases, Ros\u00e9 is made by mixing white wine with red, but this is generally only used in low-quality or sparkling wines and by no means should be considered the standard.<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9, Three Ways \u2014 A Few Different Approaches to Pink Wine <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ros\u00e9 wine usually is made one of three ways \u2014 all of which involve some initial contact with the grape skins as mentioned above, but they diverge slightly in their path from the tank to the bottle, depending on what type of Ros\u00e9 you are trying to make.<\/p>\n

\"Ros\u00e9<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at the more conventional approaches to how the Ros\u00e9 is made:<\/p>\n

1. Saignee<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saignee approach has been used to produce some of the longest-lasting Ros\u00e9s around. This method is a by-product of making red wine. About 10% of the grape juice is bled off during the fermentation process of red wine. For the red wine at hand, this means there is a higher skin-to-juice ratio in the tank, leading to more contact with the grape skins, more tannic flavors and a richer bodied flavor profile.<\/p>\n

The bled wine is then fermented into a Ros\u00e9, albeit a much darker version than most Ros\u00e9s you\u2019ll find on the market.<\/p>\n

2. Maceration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maceration is the most common method for making Ros\u00e9 wine and refers to the point in winemaking where the grapes are pressed and then left to sit in their skins. When you make red wine, the grapes stay in their skins throughout the full fermentation process. In the case of Ros\u00e9, the juice and skins must be separated before the resulting wine becomes too dark.<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9s made from lighter-colored red grapes like Grenache take upwards of a full day, while darker-colored grape skins may only hang around with the juice for a few hours.<\/p>\n

3. Vin Gris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vin Gris is French for Gray Wine, and this method of making Ros\u00e9 refers to making wine that is almost white. This process uses the maceration method but shortens the time grapes sit soaking with their skins to under a few hours.<\/p>\n

Wines like Pinot Noir Ros\u00e9s, as well as other lighter varieties, are made this way \u2014 which offers an additional benefit \u2014 the grapes can still be used to make another red wine. An economical method for wine makers, to be sure.<\/p>\n

Hitting the Right Notes \u2014 What Does Ros\u00e9 Wine Taste Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The pink color is what most identifies Ros\u00e9 wines, but there\u2019s so much more complexity to these wines than just their shared rosy hue.<\/p>\n

\"Ros\u00e9<\/p>\n

In general, Ros\u00e9 wines taste much like their red wine counterparts but are more subtle. In general, expect to get some notes of citrus, watermelon and a range of berries. Wines can range from super dry to very sweet and floral, and certain Ros\u00e9s boast big, bold, meatier flavors or hints of spice, while others are cool and crisp or sweet like candy.<\/p>\n

Dry Ros\u00e9s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dry Ros\u00e9 wines have a low sugar content and high tannins. While they could be described as simply \u201cless sweet,\u201d they are best described as being slightly more bitter with a dry finish. This is similar to the tannins that give that signature bitterness and astringency to wines, teas, coffees and chocolates.<\/p>\n

Dry Ros\u00e9s are typically made from\u00a0French<\/a>,\u00a0Italian<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Spanish<\/a>\u00a0wines like Grenache, Tempranillo or Pinot Noir, though there are some exceptions.<\/p>\n

Sweet Ros\u00e9s<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sweet Ros\u00e9s are a bit more complex than that large box of white zin hanging out in your grandmother\u2019s kitchen cabinet. \u201cOff-dry\u201d wine is relatively sweet, but it falls between dry and sweet on the scale of wine sweetness, making for a palatable sipper that\u2019s sure to hit the spot any day of the week.<\/p>\n

Sweet Ros\u00e9s offer more in terms of versatility than their dry counterparts. They bring a sense of balance to bold foods, rather than being overpowered by spices or rich flavors.<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9 Wine, A Brief History<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Like many great wine stories, the Ros\u00e9 story begins in France. The first French vineyard was in Provence, established when the ancient Greeks brought grapes to the South of France, sometime around 600 BC when they founded the city of Marseilles.<\/p>\n

At this time, the Greeks were drinking wine, but most were as pale in color as the Ros\u00e9s you\u2019ll see on the market today. It\u2019s likely the reason the first wines of Provence were Ros\u00e9s rather than reds or whites is that the process of maceration had yet to be fully understood.<\/p>\n

While Ros\u00e9s are trending currently, many people don\u2019t know that Ros\u00e9 is one of the oldest wines around and, interestingly, has maintained a high level of popularity throughout the ages. Even with the Roman introduction of red wine centuries later, Ros\u00e9 production and consumption held steady.<\/p>\n

In the Middle Ages, long after the fall of the Roman Empire, monastic orders kept producing Ros\u00e9, a longtime staple in Provence, as a key revenue source for local abbeys.<\/p>\n

\"Up<\/p>\n

Up until the birth of the railroad, Ros\u00e9 stayed relatively contained to Provence, but the industrial revolution soon gave way to a greater fan base. Tourists could now access the famous pink wine, and imports were on the rise, sending Ros\u00e9 to all corners of the globe.<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9 All Day \u2014 How Pink Wine Became a Lifestyle Symbol<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While Ros\u00e9 has never really gone away, it\u2019s also never been synonymous with sophistication in the same way as a high-end red wine. Ros\u00e9 has long been a symbol of refreshment due to its subtle taste. While it doesn\u2019t tend to get better with age \u2014 there are exceptions, but for the most part, there\u2019s no real advantage to getting an older bottle.<\/p>\n

Over the past ten years, there has been an uptick in Ros\u00e9 consumption in the US. As the sale of cheap pink wines began to fall, Americans began to develop a taste for dryer Ros\u00e9s, as many American tourists started bringing Ros\u00e9 back from their travels in the South of France.<\/p>\n

As the darling of social media and wealthy Hamptons vacationers, Ros\u00e9 has become a lifestyle trend of sorts, promoting an ideal of luxury \u2014 summering with a glass of refreshing Ros\u00e9 in hand.<\/p>\n

Types of Ros\u00e9 Wine \u2014 Yes, There\u2019s More Than One<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While the common misconception is that all Ros\u00e9s are the same, this statement couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.\u00a0 There are a few different types of Ros\u00e9 wines, and the major difference here is which variety of grapes are used as the base. Some Ros\u00e9 wines are sweet, while others have more challenging flavor profiles.<\/p>\n

While it’s possible to make Ros\u00e9 from almost any kind of red wine grape, some grapes are more known for their pinks than others.<\/p>\n

To show that all Ros\u00e9 wines are not created equal, here\u2019s a quick look at the personalities of some of the more popular types of pink wine, along with recommended Ros\u00e9 wine pairings:<\/p>\n

Grenache Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most common sources of Ros\u00e9 wines around the world, Grenache, or Garnacha, grapes produce this lovely strawberries and cream combination when made into Ros\u00e9. Drinkers will delight in low-key red raspberry and black cherry, and in some cases, hints of cucumber.<\/p>\n

\"Grenache<\/p>\n

Pairings<\/strong>: Grenache Ros\u00e9 works really well with nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers or eggplant, as well as cuisines like Thai or Indian with a high spice content.<\/p>\n

Sangiovese Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A little bit spicy with cool weather spices like cloves, cinnamon, and allspice, the Sangiovese grapes offer a combination of melon and strawberry notes, finishing with a hint of mineral. This Ros\u00e9 is both clean and acidic, perfectly refreshing on a hot day.<\/p>\n

Pairings:<\/strong> Sangiovese Ros\u00e9<\/a> is great on its own, given the variety present in the glass, yet it goes with just about any type of food. Hailing from Italy, Sangiovese works perfectly with Italian meats like prosciutto, salami and pancetta, so it works well alongside any cheese board. This Ros\u00e9 also works well with curries or Chinese food since the bold blend of flavors keeps it from getting lost in the richness of the cuisine.<\/p>\n

Tempranillo Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This Spanish wine offers a mix of fruity notes like strawberry and watermelon, as well as peppercorn and\u00a0an\u00a0overall rich flavor added to the mix.<\/p>\n

Pairings:<\/strong> Tempranillo Ros\u00e9s work really well with grilled or roasted vegetables, meats and more. Though most Ros\u00e9s are already super versatile, Tempranillo Ros\u00e9 is perfect for bringing out during grilling season as it can stand up to the hot dogs, steaks and burgers served at your classic cookout.<\/p>\n

Pinot Noir Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Easy drinking, Pinot Noir grapes offer subtle yet zesty citrus, melon, cherry and celery notes in one glass. Dry, yet delicate,\u00a0Pinot Noir Ros\u00e9s<\/a>\u00a0are full of flavor but bring a gentleness to the table.<\/p>\n

\"Pinot<\/p>\n

Pairings:<\/strong> Great with floral spices like thyme or tarragon, Pinot Noir Ros\u00e9s should never be overpowered with too many bold flavors. Think grilled chicken or fish seasoned with herbes de province, corn chowder or any number of seasonal summer salads with fresh greens and a mild dressing.<\/p>\n

Syrah Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This particular grape makes for a lovely rich Ros\u00e9. Syrah-made wines offer hints of red and white peppercorns, cherry and even the smokiness of a cured meat topped off with a zesty lime finish.<\/p>\n

Pairings:<\/strong> Syrah Ros\u00e9 works best when it stays within the cuisine of its origin. Southern French or Italian cuisines really make this relatively meaty pink wine sing. Think of flavors like garlic and citrus, roasted vegetables, shrimp linguini and so on.<\/p>\n

White Zinfandel Ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Also known as Zinfandel Ros\u00e9 or White Zin, this is one of the most popular varieties of Ros\u00e9, especially in the United States. With its \u201coff-dry\u201d style, this wine is on the sweeter side, featuring notes like melon, lemon and strawberry with a little cotton candy thrown in for good measure.<\/p>\n

Pairings: Best served cold as ice,\u00a0White Zinfandel<\/a>\u00a0can take on bold flavors like Thai spices and curries, as well as fatty savory meats. Sometimes opposites attract.<\/p>\n

While Ros\u00e9s are one of the more surprisingly versatile wines on the planet, skip the dessert if you\u2019re looking for a winning pairing \u2014 no matter what variety you\u2019re sipping on. Sweet foods might highlight the taste of the alcohol in the wine, making it fall flat or taste bitter.<\/p>\n

In general, sweet Ros\u00e9s are versatile. They help balance out hot and spicy foods or tone down saltiness.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Ros\u00e9 Cocktail Hour \u2014 Mix it Up with Pink Wine<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s better than Ros\u00e9 straight from the bottle? Drinks made with Ros\u00e9 wine! With their nuanced fruity notes and sweet pink color, nothing is more effortlessly festive than a Ros\u00e9 cocktail served with a garnish in an ice-cold glass. Plus, there\u2019s room for experimentation \u2014 Ros\u00e9 is relatively inexpensive, so you won\u2019t have to worry about wasting fine wine.<\/p>\n

Here are some of our favorite Ros\u00e9 wine cocktail recipes, which are sure to impress all your friends at your next dinner party or group hang:<\/p>\n

Ros\u00e9 Wine Cocktail Punch<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s time to reclaim punch. Maligned as a questionable school dance staple, the punch bowl has a bad rap. However, with some Ros\u00e9 wines, fresh fruit and a splash of vodka, this grown-up fruit punch is king among big-batch party drinks.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n