Rose wines are typically enjoyed in the summertime or early fall and can be paired with a variety of foods as their flavors vary from light and crisp to heavy and full-bodied. Rose wine colors also vary from pink or light orange to darker pinks and salmons. They are also sometimes referred to as blush wines. The types of rose wines basically follow the types of red wines as rose wines are made with red wine grapes--though there is an exception, which will be noted below.
Making Rose Wine
There are two ways to make rose wine. The first way is basically to make it like red wine, using red wine grapes, except that the wine is not in contact with the grape skins for as long a time. The less time it ferments with the skins, the lighter the rose wine's color. The second way to make rose wine is by bleeding. With this method, the winery will make a white wine and then bleed the juice off the top of a red wine into the white wine. The bleeding method usually creates sweeter rose.
Tavel
Tavel is an appellation--the name of the geographic region for specific wines--for rose wine. This means that no other wine than a rose can claim this region as an appellation. Tavel is an area in the South of France where the wineries combine Mourvedre grapes and Cinsault grapes to make the rose. Mourvedre tastes of berries and is the main grape in France's southern region. Cinsault tastes of strawberries and is said to be an excellent blending grape. As such, it is found in many French rose wines.
Other Types of Rose Wines
As mentioned earlier, rose wine types follow red wine types. The usual rose wines are grenache, which smells like strawberries and blackberries when used in rose wines; pinot noir, which also has a strawberry scent; gamay, which has a full fruity flavor and hints of vanilla and oak; and cabernet Franc, which smells of berries and green bell peppers.
White Zinfandel
There is much debate regarding whether white zinfandel should be classified as a rose wine as it is not made like a traditional rose wine. Winemakers take away most of the liquid from a red wine, creating a more concentrated red. The liquid that was removed, which is less tannic and much lighter, is rebottled and sold as white zinfandel. This wine is very popular in California.
Serving Rose Wine
How heavy the rose wine is dictates how it should be served. The lighter it is the more chilled it should be, but it never should be served as cold as a white wine. Alternatively, the darker it is the warmer it should be served, but it never should be served as warm as you would a red wine.
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