10 American Rosé Wines to Enjoy this Fall

While conventional wisdom might suggest we stop wearing white on Labor Day and reserve our rosé drinking to summer, it doesn’t have to be so (well, perhaps on the wearing white part).

Recent Nielsen stats (as reported in Wine Business Monthly) show that Rosé wine sales in the U.S. are the fastest growing of any wine category at a growth rate of over 40% annually.

Rosé wine was once known as a summer patio sipping wine, but its food friendliness and its many excellent medium to heavy-bodied examples have changed the perception and now rosé is popular year-around. While there are many light-bodied rosé wines best served as aperitifs or lighter dishes, many can hold up to the heartier foods served in the fall.

Here are 10 American rosé wines to enjoy this fall:

Gruet Brut Rosé ($14.99) – Deepest pink color in the glass with moussy bubbles and intense red berry favors. I’m a huge fan of Gruet and you need to check them out. 100% Pinot Noir from New Mexico.

2019 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir ($19.99) – Lovely salmon-colored in the glass, this delicious wine is lighter than some of these others, but it’s elegant and offers peach and strawberry flavors with great acidity and we’re not always eating short ribs in the Fall! Bonus: it comes in a magnum. 100% Pinot Noir from Sonoma, CA.

2019 Stolpman Estate Rose Ballard Canyon ($19.99) – Deep pink in the glass, this wine offers big juicy strawberry flavors and the winemaker goes as far as suggesting it be paired with a steak. 100% Grenache from Santa Barbara, CA.

2019 The Withers Rosé ($19.99) – Salmon-colored in the glass, this medium-bodied wine offers big cherry and peach flavors with floral notes. 100% Pinot Noir from the Sierra Foothills, CA.

2019 Bedrock Rose Ode to Lulu Sonoma Valley ($20.99) – If you love the fab Bandol rosé of France, this will be right up your alley. Vibrant wine with ripe berry flavors and a hint of pepper on the long finish. 65% Mataro and 35% Grenache from Sonoma Valley, CA.

2019 Paumanok Vineyards Vin Rosé ($21.00) – In the glass, the color is deep pink. This is a semi-sweet wine that would be super paired with Thai food or other spicy cuisine. Rosé blend from North Fork of Long Island, NY.

2019 Red Tail Ridge Pinot Dry Rosé ($24.99) – If you can find/order wines from this winery – do it. This rosé is a big mouthful of ripe raspberry with a bit of cranberry tartness. 100% Pinot Noir from the Finger Lakes, NY.

2019 Ehlers Estate Sylviane Rosé ($32.00) – This lighter pink color is deceiving as it’s a full-bodied wine with big strawberry jam and juicy peach flavors. Great acidity on the long finish – perfect food wine. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley, CA.

2018 Milbrandt Vineyards Rosé ($35.99) – Much fruitiness on the palate but a mix of berries and dried fruit like cranberries which would be great with pasta in a creamy sauce. Just a touch of herbes de Provence on the finish. 73% Syrah, 27% Tempranillo from Columbia Valley, WA.

2016 Benton Lane Pinot Noir Rosé ($38.99) – Bright pink in the glass, this intense wine has flavors of cherry pie filling with some cranberry tartness. 100% Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, OR.

Cheers,

Veronique

Top Rosé Wines for the Summer

Top Rosé Wines for the Summer

Rose WinesSummer’s finally here and warm days are among us. While sipping rosé wines during the summer isn’t anything new, what I’m really enjoying is how food-friendly rosés have become. Rosé, French for ‘pink’, describes a genre of refreshing wines, in various hue of pink and that are made using red grapes.

Here are some rosé wines I’ve sampled recently that range in price from value to special occasions.

  • 2015 Los Vascos Rosé ($13.99) – Bright, pale pink color. On the nose, aromas of strawberries, raspberries, cherries and pomegranates underscored by white chocolate and sugar syrup. The palate is fresh, balanced and persistent. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah.
  • Lucien Albrecht Brut Rosé Cremant D’Alsace ($22) – Coral/pink in color with fine and small bubbles. Light strawberry intensity with a hint of yeast. Juicy strawberry continues with a hint of sweetness that’s balanced by bright acidity. Creamy yet crisp mouthfeel.
  • 2014 Tavel Rosé, Prieuré de Montézargues ($23.99) – Bright pink in the glass, this Rhone valley rosé offers big strawberry aromas and strawberry/raspberry flavors with just a touch of citrus. 55% Grenaches (red & white), 30% Cinsault, 13% Clairette, 2% others.
  • Pierre Sparr Crémant D’Alsace Brut Rosé NV ($15.99) – Bright pink in the glass with strawberry aromas that carry over in the mouth. Laced with citrus and a little clove, Creamy and silky texture with nice level of acidity and a clean, dry finish. 100% Pinot Noir.
  • 2015 Domaine du Gros Noré Bandol Rosé ($26.99) – This rosé is salmon-colored in the glass and offers aromas of ripe peach with floral notes. Lovely delicate flavors of juicy melon and a nice level of acidity on the finish. 40% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 40% Cinsault.
  • 2015 Wilde Farm Rosé North Coast ($29.99) – Dark pink in the glass, this wine has citrus and floral aromas and ripe pear/peach flavors. Bit of sweetness then a perfect pop of acidity on the finish. Very limited quantities, but worth the search. 100% Dolcetto.
  • 2014 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé ($35.99) – Intense floral nose with a bit of strawberry. It has incredible peaches and juicy, ripe cantaloupe flavors with bright acidity and a long pleasantly dry finish. 50% Mourvèdre, 28% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 2% Carignan.
  • Champagne Drappier Brut Rosé ($54.99) – Bright orangey-pink in the glass, this is some of the best pink champagne I’ve tasted of late. Floral and red berry aromas with raspberry flavors laced with pumpkin pie spice and yeasty notes. Fresh, crisp, delicious. 100% Pinot Noir.

What are some of your favorite rosé wines? Have you tried any of the above? Please let me and other readers know.

Cheers,

Veronique