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Rosé wine: Light and lively

By Anne Martin, Sommelier

Most rosé isn’t the sweet, fizzy stuff you drank in your youth. It’s classy and wonderfully versatile, whether your mood requires a lighter, fruity wine or a heavier one with some structure.
Rosé profile
Rosé profile
Colour
: Light pink to almost red
Alcohol: Moderate to high
Acidity: Soft to lively
Tannin: None to light
Aroma profile: Strawberry or fresh fruit salad to more-austere mineral notes Styles: Light, soft and sweet (blush wines) to rich, full-bodied and bone-dry.

Old-world rosés are grown in the following countries (Grape Varieties):
France (Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Pinot Noir and more), Italy (Sangiovese, Corvina and Rondinella) and Spain (Tempranillo), Germany and Portugal (local varietals)

Look for new-world rosés from these countries (Grape Varieties)
:
Australia, Canada, United States, South Africa, South America and New Zealand (any grapes used to make red wines)

How to serve
Stemware: White wine glass
Temperature: 46°F to 55°F (8°C to 13°C); sweeter rosés are better colder
Best enjoyed: At a relaxed summer picnic or barbecue, or on the dock at midday
Food pairings: Lighter, fruitier rosés go well with cold cuts, chicken wings and ham with pineapple. Drier styles go well with barbecued meats, sausages, seafood and roast chicken. Both are able to handle spicy food quite well. Bouillabaisse is a classic pairing with drier rosés from the south of France, Italy or Spain.

How long will it keep?

The problem is wine deteriorates as soon as you pull the cork. The culprit? Air exposure.

The simple solution if to chill your wine – red, white and pink alike – and keep it as airtight as possible. It should last almost a week (the heavier-bodied the wine, the longer it keeps). Don't keep open bottles for cooking for weeks on end. Or pull the air out with a vacuum sealer or spray carbon dioxide into the bottle and recork, there are lots ot gadgets on the market that can do this for you. Tip: If you can't drink it, don't cook with it.

Read more:
Shiraz and syrah: Demystifying this complex red grape
Chardonnay: How to enjoy this versatile while wine
Yum! Fine wine online

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  • Keywords : alcoholic drinks , entertaining

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