The Rose Experience

Click on the image to see it full-sized, it's gorgeous.

Judging from the looks of this stunning sunrise, it certainly might be. I see the colors of all my favorite rosés here. There's the orange of Muga, the magenta of Il Mimo, the purples, the pinks, and the yelllows all on beautiful display. What better way to celebrate the dawn of a new day than with something light, fresh, young and vibrant?

My sunrise rosé?

Something juicy and soft, and perfect for a bacon, egg and cheese sandwiche! Let's go with a nice Rosé d'Anjou, whose sweetness can handle the smokiness and spice of my bacon.

2011 Chateau de la Roulerie Rosé d'Anjou

Click on the image to see it full-sized, it's gorgeous.

Looking out over Bolzano and the mountains beyond might not make you think of rosé. When you consider that Bolzano, as north as it is in Italy, is often one of the hottest cities in the country, you might understand why I think of rosés when I think of Bolzano!

GDP Suggests:

When in Rome, drink Lagrein Kretzer! Well, not exactly, but when in the Alto Adige, that's what you should be thinking about. Kretzer is rosé in German, and while Lagrein is an often under-appreciated red variety, its even less appreciated rosés can be knockouts, filled with ripe fruit and a lovely underlying mineral crunch.

2011 Alois Lageder Lagrein Rosé

Click on the image to see it full-sized, it's gorgeous.

There are plenty of places in Trentino to enjoy a nice rosé, after all it begins just a few kilometers south of Bolzano, but none is as summery and as appealing as the shores of Lago di Garda. The northern reaches of Garda are in Trentino, while the southern portion borders Lombardy and the Veneto. Over the years, all these regions have relied to one extent or another on rather light reds that our palates might very well consider to be more akin to today's rosés.

GDP Suggests:

I love wines like Bardolino, that feather-weight red cousin of Valpolicella from the Veneto that produces an even lighter weight Chiaretto, which I find immensely appealing!

2011 Santi Infinito Bardolino Chiaretto

Why yes, of course. Especially a super wood-fired version like the one at Portland, Oregon's Nostrana restaurant, which coincidentally had a beautiful flight of rosé on offer to accompany my pizza and fresh squash appetizer. A bright rosé is one of the few wines that I really enjoy with a pizza.

GDP Suggests:

Choose a rosé with enough fruit to balance the tomatoes, enough acidity to handle the creaminess of the cheese, and perhaps a whisper of sweetness to parry the bitter elements introduced by the charring of the pie. And don't put a lot of crap on your pie, save that for deep dish!

2011 Troon Vineyards Jeanie In the Bottle Rosé

I was just discussing this the other night during our Virtual Tasting of Rosés, I love rosé at the beach! The beach is natural for rosés, and you can even keep your bottle cool by digging down into the wet send and burying it there. One thing though, take your garbage with you! The beach is all of ours and I don't want to deal with your trash while I'm digging my rosé!

GDP Suggests:

Something crisp and refreshing is what I want on the beach. Something easy, uncomplicated and pure, and rosé of Pinot Noir often fills that bill.

2011 Acrobat Rosé of Pinot Noir

Sharing wine with friends can be a challenge. It's hard to please everyone and you usually have to settle for making yourself happy and hoping everyone else comes along for the ride!

GDP Suggests:

If I'm making myself happy, I'm probably going to serve something that's not terribly expensive, about $12 a bottle sounds right, and that is dry and super delicious. With so many choices, it's tough to choose. Let's settle on a wine that looks expensive with a famous pedigree. My friends will be impressed, they are after all easy to impress!

2011 Chapoutier Cotes-du-Rhone Rosé Belleruche

Check out "The Best Rosés" for four great rosé top lists!