Talking about rosé wines is most likely to happen at the very start of summer when culinary experts begin pairing their menus with light and refreshing wines best enjoyed al fresco. At Napa Private Tours we march to a different drummer and today as summer comes to a closing and days are shorter we want to pause for a moment and share with you a little about “pink wine”.
Up until a decade or so ago mentioning rosé was stigmatic to say the least. Most rosés were and afterthought in the wine making process and you seldom saw them as part of the most coveted wine collections. Today, through the efforts of creative and dedicated wine makers rosé has gained significant recognition and having a part of your cellar specifically devoted to this beautiful drink is a smart and delightful move.
The Flavor Profile of Rosé Wines
As wine makers explore the possibilities of this type of wine the flavor spectrum has expanded tremendously. Made mainly with Pinot Noir, Grenache, Sinsault, Syrah and Zinfandel. Rosé wine is generally perceived by the palate as fresh, crisp and having character in the form of acidity, notes of summer fruits such as strawberry, raspberry, lingonberry and watermelon come to mind and herbal aromas are present in some. Rosé wine can be dry or sweet and the method of fermentation will also surface in the flavor and bouquet. Rosé is generally served chilled and many wine makers are offering their better rosé wines from tap. Rosés are not generally aged for a long time inviting the wine collector to enjoy the current vintage with reckless abandon without the burden of what it might have become with time.
The Making of Rosé
Rosé is made by allowing red grapes to ferment with skin for a short period of time and then removing the skins. The duration of the maceration period (time in which the clear juices are in contact with the grape skins) will determine the depth of color of your rosé wine.
A more common but less coveted way of producing rosé is the soignée method. This is done by bleeding off a small portion of juice during the red wine production resulting in a highly concentrated rosé. Rosé can also be achieved by the mixing of white and red wine but this is the least desirable of methods generally not endorsed by finer wine makers and wine connoisseurs.
Our Rosé Picks From Napa Valley
If you are a wine collector and you would like to expand your wine library by including the most gorgeous rosé wine from Napa and Sonoma we look forward to hosting you during your stay in Napa. We will be honored to point you to the best of the best in rosé production.
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