16 Oct Rosé Wines: The Ultimate Guide to the Pink Wine – Guide
Rosé wines have been getting a lot of attention lately, thanks to social media influencers who proclaimed this wine to be their go-to summer drink. The truth is that rosé wines are actually one of the oldest types of wines ever made. Also known as the pink or blush wines, rosé is never white or red. Rather, they are blended wines, made from various wine grapes. They make a perfect picnic wine due to its light flavor and sometimes, surprising complexity.
How Rosé Wines Are Made?
There are various methods as to how rosé wines are made. The processes affect the character and flavors of rosé wine, making each one unique. Let’s take a look at four popular production processes:
Direct Press Process
Pressing is one way to make rosé wines that are light pink in color. The grapes are directly pressed with the skin on. This results in the light pink extract that is fermented to create rosé wines. The direct press method will create wines with lighter flavors. The faint pink tint of the wine is created as a result of the grape skin.
Maceration Process
Leaving the skin on the grapes adds the red color to rosé and red wines. Red wines are produced by leaving the skin to soak for longer periods during fermentation. In rosé wine-making, however, the skin is left on for only a few hours before it is fermented. It is only left on longer if the intention is to create a more intense flavor and darker color. Once the assigned period is over, the grape juice is extracted and the fermentation process begins.
Saignée Technique
A technique named after the word “bleed’ in French, the saignée is a practice of removing or bleeding off some juice from the red wine while the skin is still in contact to create a more concentrated liquid. The juice, which is then fermented into separate batches, is perfect for creating rosé wines that are much lighter than typical red wines but with the rich, delicious characteristics.
Blending
This process simply refers to mixing red and white wines to create the same flavor and character as a rosé wine. In some countries, such as France, this practice is prohibited except in Champagnes, where this method is used to produce rosé Champagnes. Some countries still practice this method. The results can differ depending on the percentage of white and red wine used.
Now that we’ve gone over a few methods of making rosé, let’s take a look at the most popular versions of this wine:
3 Most Popular Types of Rosé
White Zinfandel
Also known as Primitivo in Italy, the White Zinfandel is a type of rosé wine that has a bold, spicy flavor and a high alcohol content. This wine is often sweeter and has more of a fruity taste compared to other rosés. It may also contain residual sugar of as much as 5 grams, making it an “off-dry” wine. White Zinfandel is great with light and spicy dishes such as carbonara pasta, Tahi food, or Szechuan specialties.
Provence Rosé
Provence rosé wines are among the most versatile rosé wines. They are a bit fruity but dry and light pink in color. This light, sweet pink beverage pairs perfectly with any dish that has predominating citrus, herb, and berry flavors, thanks to its notes of rose petal and strawberry.
Rosé Champagne
Rosé Champagne, also known as a sparkling rosé, is created from blending red wine and Champagne. The result is a stronger, crisp and more powerful flavor than the traditional and classic Champagne.
Rosé wines are generally light, delicious, and cheaper than red or white wines. Whether you pick up a rosé wine from Provence or Spain, a sparkling rosé from France’s Champagne region, or a blush wine from California, there is one rosé that will definitely suit every wine lover’s palate!
If you’re looking to taste and learn more about wines, get in touch with Urban Crush Wine today to book for wine tasting classes.
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