If you’re into wine, you’re most likely into Rosé. Over the past couple of years it’s become the darling of sommeliers, importers, distributors, retailers, and our customers. At first, it looked like any other small trend in the industry, but year after year it continues to grow exponentially and simply refuses to lose its steam. So, why the big uptick? What’s the big deal? There are many theories floating around, but my guess is that it has to do with value and versatility. I’m lucky enough to see firsthand, on a daily basis, a few things which have led me to this conclusion:
- You can get a Rosé from a top-tier producer at a fraction of the cost of some of their traditional single varietal counterparts. Many high quality producers use the same facilities and quality control practices on their Rosés as they do with their other wines.
- Rosés are incredibly versatile when it comes to food pairing. You basically get the best of both worlds (red and white) in one bottle. So if you have a dish that contains several ingredients (some that lend themselves to red wine and some that lend themselves to white) you’ll have enough of a variation in the flavor profile of the Rosé to integrate itself easily with the dish.
- They are made from just about any red grape you can conjure. Mostly noble fruit, but you can find some really offbeat Rosés made from cool varietals like Mondeuse Noir, Nerello Mascalese, and Tibouren…..just to name a few.
- It’s a wonderful wine for entertaining. If you’re having a get-together (small or large), you’re most likely serving friends, family, and/or colleagues with varied palates. Rosé effortlessly checks many of the boxes that make it a friendly option no matter how discerning your guest list may be.
- As my wine buyer says “It’s basically a red wine in white wine’s clothing”. And, with that, comes several variations on the style. Just as a Cabernet Sauvignon is a heavier red wine than say a Pinot Noir, you can have heavier/more concentrated styles vs. lighter/more brisk styles of Rosé. It usually comes down to varietal and the amount of skin contact it sees in the winemaking process. There truly is something for everyone!
I personally hope the trend continues and I’m happy to see that so many are enjoying the fruits of the ever-growing world of Rosé.
