The thought of imbibing on rosé year-round once raised eyebrows by the wine elite–it was a sure sign of the amateur wine consumer. But, as with most things, the times they have a-changed. It’s no longer a faux-pas to crack open a bottle of your favorite Provençal rosé in the dead of winter–hey, if you’ve got a fire roaring and a cold rosé in the fridge, and there’s no bubbly lying around, it’s perfectly acceptable to indulge in something pink, cool and tasty while cooking up a mid-winter stew. But, winter is gone and…
#MemorialDay weekend is just beginning here in the U.S. In fact, this particular holiday weekend in Napa Valley sees the confluence of one of the best music festivals in all of Northern California–Bottlerock. So whether concert-going, or just gearing up for an epic BBQ, we wanted to share three favorite rosés tasted recently.
The kids at Gamling & McDuck, Gabrielle Shaffer and Adam McClary, consistently punch out delicious wines with attitude and wildly entertaining labels. We’ve featured their “Feral” rosé, a new release–absolutely lush and delectable. And two Italian pink wines–one technically an orange wine and one a dazzling Tuscan rosé. Look: you’ve plenty of time by Monday to stock up, and really, you’ll want to be drinking these all summer long.
Gamling & McDuck 2015 “Feral Rosé of Cabernet Franc” Napa Valley, USA (BUY: $19.50)
Beautiful deep pink color almost exactly like the flesh of a perfectly ripe watermelon. Vibrant and racy with sweet ripe watermelon and strawberry fruit, a salty, mineral-thread with hints of macadamia nuts and wild, spicy herbs.
Frescobaldi Alìe Ammiraglia 2014 Rosé, Tuscany, Italy (BUY ONLINE, Avg $10.00)
Salmon pink color, citrus-driven, zesty, loaded with Mediterranean spice that mingles with beautiful strawberry fruit, finishing strong with a salty mineral character that demands sip after sip to quench the thirst. Imported by Folio Wine Partners.
ATTEMS 2014 Pinot Grigio Ramato, Venezia-Giulia IGT, Italy (BUY ONLINE, Avg $16.00 )
A rich and complex skin-fermented (technically orange-wine, but we’re folding it into this rosé roundup), that boasts an impressive array of ripe pear, apricot and orange blossom notes. The wine is crisp and refreshing and offers a dazzling mineral component through a lengthy finish. Imported by Folio Wine Partners.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DOMESTIC ROSÉ WINE PRODUCTION WHEN YOU TAKE OUR AMERICAN WINE STUDIES COURSE AND IF ITALIAN ROSÉ IS YOUR THING, INTERNATIONAL ROSÉ PRODUCTION IS COVERED IN THE ITALIAN WINE PROFESSIONAL.
