The Perfect Summer Drink: Rosé Wine

The pink drink of Starbucks has been shared far and wide on social media this Summer, but don’t forget the original pink drink of the summer: a deliciously crisp and light rosé wine. While a good rosé – with its pale pink hue – can be found all over the world, from Europe to South America, and even in the States, some of our favorite rosés for the Summer hail from Provence, France.

And that’s not just because the dry rosé of Tavel, Provence was supposedly the favorite of author Ernest Hemingway. Dry wines are considered not very sweet, which allows the natural fruity flavors and aromas to be fully experienced. Plus, dry rosés are the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes you’ll find at a backyard barbecue. Lighter rosés work well with grilled fish as well as salads, while the more robust work well with meats, like brisket and burgers.

Browse our cooking vacations in France.

So what is a rosé exactly? Despite its color, it’s not a mix of red and white wines. In fact, most of these high alcohol — but low acidity — wines are made with red grapes (like Grenache and Syrah) that have been macerated with their skins on. The red wine juice is then strained from the “must” or skins, and fermented. Most traditional rosés are then aged, but not for very long, especially in comparison to other wines. The deeper the color of the rosé, the longer the grape skin was in the wine — which also means the wine will have more tannins.

Learn about pairing Provencal wines and cheeses.

Whichever rosé you decide to sip on this Summer, the pale pink wine is wonderful in just about any setting: the beach, poolside, or alongside dinner (or lunch… or even brunch). While wonderfully delicious all on its own – and chilled – it can also be mixed to make cocktails like spritzers.

Try pairing a rosé with a summer panna cotta recipe.

Want to discover the French region where the most rosé is produced? Then you’ll want to head to Provence and the Rhone wine-growing region on a wine and food tour, and in particular check out our Provencal cooking vacations!

What’s your favorite rosé for the Summer?

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