All that pink stuff! where is that pink grape in rosé?

THE TRUTH ABOUT PINK

If white wines are made from white grapes and vice verses for red, could rosé wines be made from pink grapes?

Rosé is a wine style. It can be made from a single varietal or a blend of 2-3 grape varietals.

There are several different ways to making rosé wine and this includes limited skin maceration, direct pressing, Saignée and blending.

The most common and popular method of making quality rosé will be using the method of red wine making however limiting the skin contact time of the crushed grape skins so to produce a lighter tone of red wine.  This method can make many styles of rosé depending on grape variety and length of maceration.

Direct pressing involves having the grapes to be pressed right away to remove the skins, as a white wine would be vinified. Because of the pigment in the skins, there will still be a hint of colour in the juice so this process tends to produce the lightest colour of rosés of all.

The Saignée method (meaning “bleeding” in French), involves making rosé as a by-product of red wine fermentation, where a portion of the pink juice from the grape must is removed at an early stage, which is fermented separately to produce rosé.

Rosé wine is also made by blending finished red wine with finished white wine. This method of wine making however is prohibited in many countries. These wines can vary in style from light to heavy depending on the amount and type of red wine used in the blend.

All these methods are used by both Old World and New World Rosé producers, with the exception being the Saignée method is only practiced in France.

Be it New world or old world. Rosé wines are flora and fruity on the nose but bone dry on the finish but most often New World rosé tends to be less dry and fruiter.  

THE ELEGANT PROVENCE ROSÉ

When it comes to rosé wines, inevitably many of us will turn to the famous Provence region in the south of France. The Provence is the largest rosé producing area in the world known for its elegant character and the Provence rosé tends to command higher prices than other rosés.

The Provencal rosé is a very pale orange-tinted pink colour. Most are made from the blends of the local grapes like Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah with classic berry flavours to citrus notes, florals, bracing minerality, even spiciness.

ROSÉ AND FOOD PAIRING

Rosé wine is the perfect year-round wine to be enjoyed. Not only are they approachable for everyday drinking, Rose wines are incredibly versatile to pair with food. They have enough character not to be overwhelmed by most foods and the acidity to cut through the flavours.

Rosés love brash flavours. It will pair well with food rich in spices such as pancetta and prosciutto and salty food such as sausages and baked ham.

As cheese and wine don’t go wrong, rosé wine can also be paired with a wide variety of cheeses depending on your personal preferences. For a lighter fare, you may pair your rose wine with fresh fruits and vegetables such as a salad for a healthful dessert. Fuller-bodied rosé wines will complement with barbecued meats. This food-friendly wine goes pretty well with most things from sweet to savoury!