Rosé Explored

It’s hot, trendy and the latest thing, right? Well, not quite. Veuve Clicquot first made rosé champagne 200 years ago, the first cab off that rank (the rosé champagne one). So, it’s not new, though the volume we are consuming of it is off the charts, not just here in NZ, but also globally. Speculating on what has driven sales of pale pink wines could take so many more words than I’ve been allocated here, so let’s not go there. Rather, let’s consider what makes a great rosé, what should you be looking for? After all, every man (yes brosé is a thing) and women are drinking rosé.

One thing is for sure, making the decision based on the colour alone, whilst providing a little guidance, is not all that useful. Being armed with a little more information is always a good idea.

Côtes de Provence rosé – Provence is a very large area and rosés produced here are a minefield of inconsistency; be very wary of cheap Provençal offerings. The overall quality has increased of late, in part thanks to a new wave of producers, led by the likes of La Mascaronne’s Tom Bove. Côtes de Provence rosés are some of the most exceptional in the world, with the very best having a gorgeous fragrance, a delicate hue and wonderful texture.

Rosé made because it was intended to be rosé. The very best rosés are those made year in year out, from grapes intended for rosé and not from grapes that did not make the red wine cut.

Large bottles are definitely the way to go and we’ve got that sorted with a wonderful collection of magnums and 3l bottles. Why open two bottles, it’s just far too much effort!

Selected with care. Rosé sales are booming and it’s no surprise that there’s a very large number of rosé wines being made in NZ and imported into NZ. To ensure that we carry only the best, this year (as we do regularly) we tasted all the potential rosé wines that we could stock and selected very carefully. The range in a Glengarry store is one you can have a high level of confidence in.

For me a great rosé will have an attractive aromatic nose: some pretty florals with a touch of herbal spice. On the palate, there will be fresh fruit flavours, a lively acidity and a full mid- palate with plenty of texture and interest. The finish needs to tend towards dry and be very refreshing.

As we head into the cooler months, rosé is here to stay, having moved itself out of the frivolous summer status it once had and more so into a serious wine style. Sure, not all are serious and some still sit firmly in the first part of this statement, but the quality of rosé has never looked as good as it does right now. This month at Glengarry, we highlight several of our favourites as we put the spotlight on rosé in our promotions this month.


By: , Wine with Liz Wheadon, Glengarry

Issue 86 April 2018