Rosè wines are such an interesting topic because there are so many different styles out there! With Rosè made in almost every major wine region, the countless options can be overwhelming at times. I often get asked “How are Rosè wines made? Are there rosè grapes? Or are they made by mixing red and white wine?"

The short answer is that rosè wines are made from red grapes. The winemaker limits the amount of time the grape juice is in contact with its skins during the crushing process, so that the juice extracts minimal color and looks more pinkish than red. This also means that the juice extracts less flavor from the skins, so these wines tend to be much lighter and fruitier than the red wines made from the same grape varietals. There are a wide range of flavors and styles of rosè wine because there are countless red grape varietals used to make rosès - Pinot Noir, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah….the list goes on and on! Rosès can be a single grape varietal or a blend of multiple varietals.

There are no requirements around the specific grapes that must be used or how the wines are made, so they are truly different depending on where in the world they are from and the specific winemaker who made them. It is important to note that in some rosè regions, like Provence (FR), there are some white grapes that are added to the blend to soften the red grapes. This is not very common as most rosès around the world are made exclusively from red grapes, but I think it’s worth mentioning!

Rosès are perfect to enjoy all year long, but I have found that there is a specific uptick in rosè interest around Valentine’s Day. Everyone loves to drink something pink around this holiday, so I’ve rounded up my top 5 picks for this year and included pictures of each bottle to make it a little easier when you’re shopping for your sweetheart or galentine’s day party!

1. Sonoma Cutrer Rose: First up is the Sonoma Cutrer Rose from Sonoma California. They’ve made each vintage a little differently and it looks like their 2020 is really light and fresh. I’ve only tried their 2017 which had a really rich dark color, but I was really impressed with it! I’m not normally a California Pinot Noir fan and they make all of their rose’s out of 100% pinot noir grapes, but this wine was fresh, fruity, and delicious. It had great acidity and would honestly hold up to a lot of heavier foods. It’s around $20-$25 depending on the retailer so very decently priced and an awesome pick for Valentine’s Day!

2. Bertrand Cote des Rose: You can find this wine in most grocery stores for less than $20. It’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault from the south of France and although it has some bold grapes in it, it is very light and refreshing. This is a perfect valentine’s day pick because it is delicious, well priced, and has a gorgeous bottle! Not that you should pick your wines based on the pretty bottle or label, but the bottom of this bottle is shaped like a rose, which makes it beautiful and perfect for a romantic celebration!

3. Reserve des Chastelles Tavel Rose. This wine really surprised me because it’s less than $15 at Trader Joe’s! I bought it because the dark rosey color intrigued me. It’s also from Tavel, which is a very famous region in the Southern Rhone Valley, France that is specifically known for making amazing rose wines. Well, this wine lived up to the reputation because it is absolutely delicious! You may have seen this bottle a few weeks ago on my Instagram because I paired it with a pesto chicken pizza and it was an absolutely amazing pairing! I think this one is undiscovered and an absolutely perfect wine to drink in the winter time because of its bold flavors and dark color.

4. Chateau Vignelaure Rose: When most people think of provence, they think of rolling lavender fields and unbelievably delicious foods, but Provence is also known for being an incredible home to rose wines. Some of the best roses in the world come from Provence and this one is true to that reputation! It’s around $20 a bottle and is very crisp and refreshing. I really like recommending rose from Provence (or Bandol, which is a region in Provence) because they have an incredible history in this region for making excellent roses!

5. Chanoine Champagne Rose Brut: Last up – Valentine’s Day would not be complete without a little champagne and why not make it a rose champagne? If you listened to my New Year’s Eve episode on Champagne then you know it can be difficult to find champagne under $50, but I love to recommend this rose champagne from Chanoine because it is delicious and under $40! It’s light and refreshing and has great notes of strawberry, making it a perfect pairing with dessert or some chocolate covered strawberries to enjoy with your valentine.

Be sure to subscribe to the show so that you never miss an episode!

Check out my blog post on this episode which includes pictures of each wine to make shopping a bit easier!

Still looking for a Valentine's Day gift for that special someone? Purchase a coupon for one of my virtual wine tastings! It's the perfect date night and it's a creative gift that your beau will not expect. Email me at Sarah@thewineceo.com to learn more!