Rose Wines are Attractive

by Frank Mangio

Rose wines (pronounced roe-zay) both bubbly and traditional are those pink wines that virtually nobody has much to say about. They are those “retro” wines that were all the rage in the 60’s when Gallo made them famous. Then white Zinfandel was the rage in the 80’s. “Blush” wines were the wines of choice, with their sweetness and pretty looks.

But with America’s turn to dry, less sugary wines, pink was out and “reds” and “whites” were in. Now it seems, Rose is coming back, only more dry and acceptable to today’s palate. It is still a casual sip, easy to consume and stands well on its own. At its best, it shows a lively cherry, melon and berry flavor with a touch of acidity in its flavor, which separates it from its “oldies” ancestor. Sales of imported Rose grew by 40% in the last reporting period, 2004. The southern French region of Provence, the traditional home of this style of wine has upped its production 50% over 2005.

Here, it’s the Grenache and Mourvedre grape that is used to make Rose wine.

Closer to home, Pedroncelli of Sonoma is making award winning Rose with Zinfandel grapes. The Dry Creek ’06 entry has won double gold at the San Francisco International Wine Show, and gold at the L.A. County Fair. Cost is $8.99 a bottle.

Ponte Winery in Temecula has just released its Rose Spumonte, an Italian sparkling wine. Subtle flavors with a soft floral nose, this one is sweeter with its sparkling effervescence. It’s one of the few “pink” wines offered in the Temecula appellation. Price is $24.95 from the website at www.pontewinery.com.

Learn more about Pedroncelli at www.pedroncelli.com.

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