THINK PINK for Rose’ Wines ~ A Weekend Wine and Cheese Pairing

WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU ENJOYED A ROSE’ WINE?

I’m not talking about that syrupy sweet pink mystery juice in the giant bottle that grandma sipped on special occasions. Is that even really wine?

Rose’ Wines have the acidity of white wine with the fruit and character of a red wine. They are not overly sweet and considered a DRY wine. Rose’s are versatile and food friendly wines. They pair well with many foods and most cheeses pair well with a dry Rose’.

Rose’s are made with red grapes, the same grapes used to make many varieties of red wines. It’s all about how long the pomace or solid components of the grapes are left in the tank to ferment.
The longer the grape skins,seeds and stems are in contact with the juice, the darker the color. Depending on the color and intensity of the rose’ the winemaker desires, the time the pomace spends in the juice might be for just a few hours.

The result is a lively,refreshing medium-bodied wine with depth of fresh fruit flavors and aromas such as strawberry and raspberry balanced with good acidity. A slight amount of tannins are present due to the fermentation process adding structure and body to the wine.

Rose’s are great for anytime of the year but I especially love a great Rose’ on pleasant late summer evenings with a cheese platter or grilled meats.

Malbec-blend Rose’s have been a particular favorite for me. This Chilean Rose’ CALCU is made from a blend of Malbec,Syrah and Petit Verdot grapes. Each of these grapes produces intense, full-bodied red wines. When Rose’ are made with these grapes,a clean and crisp acidic wine is produced with lively grapefruit  notes and and vibrant notes of raspberry,strawberry and cherry.

I found this delicious handcrafted,artisanal cheese at Whole Foods from JASPER HILL CREAMERY  in Vermont and glazed it with Bonnie’s Jams Raspberry Lime Rickey. It was delicious!

MOSES SLEEPER, named after a historical pioneer scout, is an new American bloomy rind semi-soft cow’s milk cheese similar in texture to a triple cream. This cheese is creamy,soft and buttery. It has a slightly grassy taste but is not pungent. The Raspberry Lime Rickey was a perfect complement to this semi-soft cheese. This unique jam is tangy with lime and sweet raspberry.

MOSES SLEEPER’s fresh,creamy texture combined with the tangy lime and raspberry jam made a perfect wine and food pairing with the dry,crisp Rose’and its fresh raspberry notes. Be sure to check out the Whole Foods trip and blog to Jasper Hill Farms for more information about these fantastic Vermont cheeses.

Be adventurous!  There are many delicious, dry ROSE’S available from your favorite wine shop.
See if you can find a favorite!

If you are the mood for a bubbly, you must try one of my favorites CREMANT de BOURGOGNE BRUT ROSE’ of Burgundy,France.
This lively,dry sparkling wine is made from the Pinot Noir grape. It is fresh,vivacious and has intense aromas and flavors of raspberry and red currant and would be another perfect match for this cheese plate.

These mouthwatering Rose’s as well as other fine wines are available at BRINKMAN’S Wine and Spirits in Franklin,TN.
Read more about Vermont’s new cheeses and the cool stories behind the names. MOSES SLEEPER is available at Whole Foods in Franklin,TN or check out their website.

CIAO FOR NOW!