DAYS OF WINE AND ROSÉS
It is positively radical chic–Pink. That’s right–pink wine. Otherwise known and loved throughout the civilized world as Rosé. Real Rosé is real wine. This is not your mothers pink dearie, this is café cool, European class, and food friendly quaff. It is the ultimate summer offering as it is just so perfect. Unlike some of those other “white” styles of a red grape, such as white zinfandel or white merlot, this is a bleed of the red wine and does not usually include adding enough sugar to make it “kool aid” passable.
This is Provence in a glass–imagine that, after fighting the traffic on Route 1A or Route 6 (for the more well-endowed gas allowances), you are relaxing on a lawn chair with a sip of chilled rosé. Canapés and fishy bits, perhaps a Farmstead cheese or two, or three…Rosé is a sign of a greatly developed mind; the intelligentsia, the trend setters.
Seriously, it is just delicious. It reminds me as much of summer as a whiff of salt air and petrol, sun heat hazes and aromatic sunbathing lotion. It is a quintessentially warm weather and lighter fair accompaniment. Recently, I lunched at Castle Hill which is one of the best off-the-beaten-path views to possibly have in Newport. On the drink menu was a White Zin by a rather large brand, and a little known Domaine Ott Rosé. Readers know I chose the later and was presented with a faintly colored wine which was the palest of salmon, and it was dry and inviting. Lovely with Boomster scallops. There are now Rosés in the market and on most every wine list, worth its sea salt. Some are French, Italian or Spanish, and even, of course, American.
Rosé is simply French for Pink. They are usually made by crushing red grapes and allowing the skins to have contact with the juice anywhere from 4–24 hours. A very short period of time compared with red wine making. This produces the tinge of color–thus more pink than red. This process is called SAIGNEE.
Italy offers Rosatos – which are their version of Rosé, made from bleeds of varietals indigenous to Italy, such as Montepulciano, or Sangiovese. A few affordable wines that come to mind and fit in nicely with salad and grilled shrimp are Masciarellis’ Montepulciano d’ Abruzzi (approx. $7.99 – 10.00). Also, Vitiano, everyone’s favorite red wine, makes an excellent Vitiano Rosé, which is also affordably priced at about 9–12.00 dollars per bottle. This is a bleed of the red which is equal parts of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot. Try it with anything – it is just great with pizza in the summertime. Some Italian wines are a deeper color than the blush rosés, and are called Cerasuolo. These will be more like a lighter red than a blush of rosé, and are from Sicily. Marvelously aromatic and easy to drink, they are all great dinner companions.
The most wonderful Rosés – which is just this reporter’s opinion and nothing more – are French. Grand Cassagne Rosé is a regular at my outdoor table, and is always appreciated by my guests. Find this at ENO, Spiritus Fermenti, Wakefield, Campus, and other fine wine shops. It is not expensive – just tasty. Remember; that the very best Champagnes are Rosés – and that is because the Pinot Noir grape is utilized. So why should still wine be any different? Give it a swirl, a sniff and a taste, and welcome to summer – a summer of lawn parties with croquet, and casual as white linen. Gatsby would have loved it!
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