Guest Post by Shona Milne
The calendar says spring and I take it as a signal to start buying some Rosé wines. It is like spring in your glass. We have some great Rosé wine in Woodinville and Washington State. Don’t be scared off, it’s not your grandmas Rosé of years past. Many of the winemakers are now making Rosé wine that is dry and off dry in style, not like the sweet style of years ago.
Smasne Cellars – 2009 Farm Girl Rosé - $13 – This refreshing Rosé is a blend of 57% Sangiovese, 31% Gamay Noir and 12% Grenache. Each of these grapes were individually fermented after a 24 hour post crush cold soak to create a real summertime gem. This Rosé captures the pure expressive beauty of fresh strawberries and ripe cherries with hints of floral and rhubarb. Its bright acidity is carefully balanced with a refreshing off dry sweetness on finish.
Brian Carter Cellars – 2010 Abracadabra – $20 – There’s no better way to enjoy the spring and summer than with the 2010 Abracadabra Rosé. Beautiful electric pink in color, aromas of ripe strawberries abound with more subtle notes of apples and orange blossoms. On the palate is bountiful fruit backed up by deliciously crisp acidity. Experience the magic with summer salads, BBQ salmon, new friends and plenty of sunshine. Varietals: 62% Sangiovese, 23% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
Syncline Winery – 2010 Rosé - $18 – Our creation of this wine is in direct response to our love of crisp, dry Rosé. The color is a striking pale rose with aromas of strawberry, stone fruit and melon. Each grape lends unique attributes to the overall complexity. The Pinot Noir base provides strawberry and refreshing acidity, Cinsault offers the unmistakable aroma of rose water and violets, Grenache contributes juicy strawberry and musky watermelon rind aromas and flavors, Mourvedre imparts its characteristic spice to the mix, Counoise and Carignan yield fresh acidity and ripe berry notes. Finishing completely dry, this is as serious as Rosé gets. Varietals: 33% Pinot Noir, 17% Grenache, 17% Cinsault, 15% Carignan, 9% Mourvedre, 9% Counoise.
Special Event for Thirsty Girl members: Visit Wine World Warehouse on Thu. May 19 from 7-9 pm to sample Rosés from around the world! More details here
ABOUT SHONA MILNE: I’ve been the Contributing Editor for Woodinville Wine Update for over two years. It’s great to have so many great wineries in my backyard and have the opportunity to cover what is happening in Woodinville wine. I’m also the creator of Wine Diva Lifestyle where I will be talking about wine, food, travel and more. This will give me the opportunity to step outside of the Woodinville area. You can also follow me on Twitter @Shona425
