With a gorgeous gamut of styles to choose from, lovers of rosé wine can consider themselves in the pink this summer! Given the diversity on offer, there’s never been a better time to experiment with food and wine matching and put your favourites through their paces.
We’ve picked some of our perennial pink favourites and explored food matching in depth (putting a Cornish spin on things in the process!) to show that rosé is far more than a fair-weather friend.
Provence-style rosé: amie x organic
It’s the rosé that everyone’s talking about this summer. Made from organic Grenache and Cinsault grapes grown in the South of France, this wine is like a warm pillow of summer fruits with a crisp and elegant finish. It has received excellent reviews, and came top out of 33 entries at a recent WSET panel tasting.
Here in Cornwall we’d pair this with some barbequed mackerel and courgette trifolati, preferably enjoyed somewhere overlooking the water. On a good day you could almost be in the South of France!
Conveniently canned rosé: Copper Crew Rosato
Also new to our portfolio for summer 2024 is a selection of brilliant canned wines from The Copper Crew. They’ve hopped over from sunny Puglia (using a lot less carbon on the way!) and are now ready to grace beach trips, picnics, festivals, and lazy afternoons in the garden all summer long.
The Rosato is a fruit-forward style, with a subtle floral character and a mouth-watering finish.
Up your picnic food game with a Mediterranean pasta salad heavy on the roast veg, preferably made with orecchiette which is ubiquitous in Puglia. Supplement with olives, taralli (crunchy snacks originating from Puglia, often made with fennel seeds), and focaccia. Alternatively, if you’re ensconced in the garden, a Cornish Crab & Saffron Tart would be the perfect cultural cross-over.
Food-friendly, fruity rosé: Knightor Pinot Noir Rosé
One of our favourite Cornish wines, the Pinot Noir grapes were crushed and cold macerated for 14 hours to extract just the right amount of colour and body. 35% was then fermented in American oak, giving this beautifully balanced wine unfurling layers of flavour and texture.
On the nose you’ll pick up notes of strawberry, violets and cream, followed by raspberry, vanilla on the palate, which is crisp and dry.
We’d pair this with a Chicken Caesar Salad, or Seafood Linguine.
Darker, fuller-bodied rosé: Sottano Malbec Rosé
As explained in our rosé style guide, the darkest styles of rosés have seen longer skin-contact time, giving them more body. To make this Malbec Rose, the grapes are macerated for 5-8 hrs then the juice undergoes pre-fermentation on the skin for five days to obtain the intense fruit character of the wine.
Flavours of cherries and strawberries combine with citrus and floral notes on the palate. This rose has a nice balance and natural acidity.
This would be our pick of the rosés for a BBQ, as it has the body and acidity to go well with grilled meats, fish and veg.
Slightly sweet rosé: Discovery Beach Zinfandel Rosé
The Central Valley Delta in California basks in warm sunshine but, thanks to the cooling ocean breezes, the fruit retains freshness and structure.
This exuberant pink with a dark exotic hue is packed with juicy fruit flavours, including cherries, watermelon, and ripe strawberries. The hint of candied sweetness is subtle and not overpowering.
This wine pairs superbly with spicy food. Thai crab cakes, spicy fish tacos, or crispy squid with sweet chilli sauce would be our recommendations here.
Sparkling Rosé: Reserva Especial Rosé Cava, Dominio de la Vega
This exuberant pink bubbly is a team favourite here at Old Chapel Cellars. Made using Pinot Noir grapes, the juice is aged on its lees for 20 months, giving it a beautiful, sweet pastry scent. Alongside citrus peel and violets on the nose, followed by ripe red fruits on a palate, all in all it’s a heady combination.
This would be delicious with a light lunch of smoked salmon, homemade mackerel pâté, a green salad and some freshly baked bread.
