Labor Day approacheth. Summer is nearly over, kids are returning to school, football season is starting, and wine buyers start planning a focus towards generous, warming red wines for the Fall. If you're buy wines - be it for a wine shop, restaurant or for your own consumption - will you please do yourself a favor? Don't stop buying rosé wines.
To be sure, Americans are drinking more dry rosé now more than they ever have. In the two years I've lived in Minnesota I've witnessed a dramatic increase in demand for these pink beauties. And while that's certainly a good thing, I remain puzzled by folks who think pink wines can only be sold/drunk/appreciated during the Summer months.
Nonsense. And, if you'll kindly indulge me, let me explain why this is so.
Rosés don't turn to vinegar six months after release.
In addition to nice fruit, most dry rosés exhibit great acidity and structure...characteristics that mean the wine will drink well for 2-3 years. Do you stop selling/drinking Sauvignon Blanc once Summer is over? Nope. Think of rosés as you would most white wines.
Rosés are some of the most-versatile wines out there.
Skeptical? Imagine a four people dining out. One orders pork chops, one seared ahi tuna, another a Caesar salad with anchovies and the other a hangar steak. Cabernet? No way, Pinot? Not with those anchovies and lemon. And don't even bring that bottle of oaky Chardonnay to the table. A nicely chilled bottle of pink is just the ticket.
The "my customers have been conditioned to stop drinking rosés now" excuse.
Is that so? By whom? Any good retailer or sommelier becomes successful by selling their clients the perfect wine. It's their job to steer the consumer in the right direction...and sometimes that direction is towards a bottle of rosé. Wine is all about expanding horizons, not limiting them. If we were to hold firm to wine 'traditions', Gray Riesling would still be the nation's #1 white wine, and consumers would have never heard of Viognier, Tempranillo, Blaufrankisch, etc.
And let me ask you this: if rosés can only be sold during the summertime, why are rosé Champagne and white Zinfandel are enjoyed year-round?
We're coming into THE SEASON for rosés.
To be sure, a chilled bottle of dry pink is great pool-side, but I'll argue that it's even more at home around the holiday dinner table. We are about to enter that time of year when we consume more ham, turkey and root vegetables than ever. These types of food practically scream, "Serve me with rosé!" And, as the snow begins to fall, pink wines are a nice way to start an evening...not to mention remember that Springtime is just around the corner.
Still not convinced? Then please invite me over, and I'll bring a bottle of rosé that's sure to make you a believer. By the way, these are some of my favorites from the 2010 vintage that are perfect this time of year:
Mas du Guiot,
Costieres de Nimes - 74604
Chateau de Lascaux,
Coteaux du Languedoc - 52095
Sainte-Eugenie,
Corbieres - 72454
Font e Michelle,
Cotes-du-Rhone - 70324
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