by Mike Stolese

February seems like the perfect time to chat about pink wine, what with the “big heart holiday” closing in on us.

As it happens, rosé wine has actually been around since the 1,400s. But it finally got its footing after World War II, when a couple of Portuguese wines, Mateus and Lancers, were released in to the U.S. These were sweet, slightly sparkling rosé wines, and they became the rosés of the day.

Then, in the 1970’s, the famous (or infamous, depending on your take) White Zinfandel became the new, still, pink wine.

Well, folks…the stage for rosé was set. Rosé was either sweet or semi-sweet.

That was then. Over the last 20 or 25 years, the selections of dry and semi-dry rosés on the market is unlimited, both still and sparkling. France was probably the first country to make itself known for rosé, particularly in Provence. The rosés from Provence have structure and can be bone dry, with citrus, strawberry and herbal elements. At times, they can be bit higher on the price scale, but well worth it.

Not to worry…Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the U.S. and the Loire and Languedoc regions of France all offer a a broad selection of rosés from a wide range of grapes. Italy’s Sangiovese makes wonderful, light, acidic, refreshing rosés, as does the Grenache grape, either from France or Spain. And that’s just a short list…many other countries make incredible, value-friendly rosés. 

If you’re wondering why you haven’t seen pink grapes, and wondered how they make these pink wines…it’s all in the skins. Much of the color comes from the amount of time spent in contact with the grape skins. Less time = less color, and you wind up with lighter bodied, refreshing, pink wine. There are also other methods, but skin contact would be number one.

Rosés may not have the complexity of many red wines, but that does not take away from what they are supposed to be: youthful, light and refreshing. They are also incredibly food friendly: seafood, white meats, barbecue, soft cheeses and sushi are all perfect pairings for rosé. And again, that’s a short list.

So when you’re on that Valentine’s date, and you are a red lover and your partner is a white wine fan, try a bottle of rosé. My guess would be that it leads to a romantic evening!

Click below for a half dozen of our favorite rosés, along with some pairing suggestions…

Mike Stolese is the owner of Vermont Wine Merchants, a wholesale distribution company based in Burlington.