Rose wine is one of the oldest beverages known to humankind! Yet, its unique taste qualities seem to be only just discovered – rose wine is slowly gaining popularity, increasingly appearing on store shelves between white and red varieties. How is rose wine made? What should you pair it with to enhance its taste and aroma? In what and how should it be served?
Rose Wine – Where Did It Come From?
There are many myths about where rose wine comes from. Some say it's made from pink grapes, while others claim it's a blend of red and white wine. This is partly true – the rose wine known to the ancients was mainly created in two primary ways from black grapes.
Although rose wine – semi-sweet or semi-dry – is very rarely a result of blending white and red varieties. Regardless of the method, it certainly combines features of both. It's light and unpretentious, yet it can delight with an intriguing bouquet of flavors. How is it produced, and how should it be drunk to discover all its qualities?
How Is Rose Wine Made?
Wineries producing good rose wine are mainly found in Europe and the United States, but they can also be found in other parts of the world. Apart from the rare, and in some countries even forbidden, method of producing it by mixing white and red wines, its production primarily uses the saignée (bleeding) and maceration techniques.
To obtain the best rose wine using the "bleeding" method, must from black grapes, produced during the making of red wine, is used. A portion of the pink juice is drained and then fermented, resulting in rose wine. Depending on the intensity of the color, the wine can be pink, orange, dark red, almost white, or even purple.
To produce rose wine through maceration, the grape skins are macerated with the must for only a dozen or so hours. After this time, all the skins are removed, and the must is fermented – the longer they are left, the more intensely red the final wine's color will be.
There are also various local nuances, such as pressing blue grapes before fermentation or using very rare pink grapes that undergo full fermentation. However, these methods are niche.
What Are the Types of Rose Wine?
Delicate and refreshing rose can be categorized just like white and red varieties. There is semi-dry, dry, semi-sweet, and sweet rose wine. There is also a sparkling version. Depending on the level of tartness, it can be flexibly adapted to the occasion and the dishes served. Each type is characterized by a specific bouquet. It is good to appreciate rose wine – what to pair it with and how to serve it to enhance the taste of dishes and the palate of guests?
How to Serve Rose Wine?
As with other beverages, it's worth knowing how to serve rose wine to bring out all its most valuable qualities. The ideal serving temperature is 10-12 °C.
And what glasses are best for rose wine? First and foremost, clear ones, so you can feast your eyes on the beautiful shades of pink shimmering in the light. It's also important that the bowl narrows very gently towards the top.
The Harmony wine glasses will be perfect for drinking rose wine on casual occasions. For more elegant events, it can be served in glasses like those from the Splendour or Avant-Garde lines. And what to serve with wine?
What to Drink Rose Wine With?
Rose wine is generally light and refreshing – so it pairs well with appetizers, salads, and cheeses. It wonderfully complements Italian and French dishes. Its sweet varieties, in turn, can be served with desserts. Sparkling rose wine is an excellent aperitif. It is worth drinking it consciously and discovering all its secrets!