For a dozen Rosés for Valentines and Galentines, we have a gorgeous bouquet of pink wines for you to try! But how to choose?  While there may be a tendency to think pink wine is all the same pale color and character, there is a range of hues determined by the grape and winemaking techniques– and not all Rosés are in a clear bottle to show off the color since clear bottles don’t protect the fragile liquid within as well as dark ones. Just like with red wines, different grapes and winemaking provide a range of colors, textures, and flavors for your Rosé bouquet. 

• What are you looking for on the palate– something simple or something more complex, and how much are you willing to spend for more complexity or intrigue?
• Does the grape naturally have a lot of color in the skin? Grape skins have different amounts of color in them that contribute to the hue.
• How long is the skin contact? The longer the skin contact, the more color; usually with rose, it is as brief as possible (while with orange wines, the color comes from he extended contact of the white grapes with their pale skins).
• How much filtering is done to reduce the density of color?
• Will the wine be sparkling? How will it be bubbly?
• How much do you want to pay?  
• Will you be drinking it right away–within a year or two? If so, a clear bottle kept in a cool dark place will be fine. Wines that will store longer will be in a dark bottle. Should you taste a rose that’s off, and it’s in a clear bottle, it could have had sun damage.

Possibly the most important question for a winemaker is when to pick the grapes–early for an intentionally made Rosé, later for one that uses the saignee method. (Read more about how Rosé is made in yesterday’s post about Old World Rosé, or here which quotes a few winemakers on the topic.)  

Finally there’s the question of pairing: what food will you have with your Rosé? Like with any flower arrangement, which Rosé you choose should go with what else will be on the table. While generally it seems that Rosé is a flexible category and most foods will go with it, some menus certainly pair better than others. I love the basic rule that matches color with color, and as predicted, Rosé and ham matches up very well.  But even with ham, how it is prepared and how the wine is made can play a role. 

We decided for our bouquet of Rosé to explore eight grilled cheese sandwiches with all but one made with ham. For the Old World wines from France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, and Czech Republic, we went with four variations on Croque Monsieur, and for our California roses, we went with four Monte Cristos, which is a New World version of that sandwich that features ham and cheese on three of the four. 

And yes, I know now I should have taken a photo of the dozen bottle Rosé bouquet!

MONTE CRISTO Menu for 6 Rosé Wines from California 

• Monte Cristo Grilled Cheese 4 Ways 
  #1 “Classic” — Honey Smoked Turkey and Smoked Ham with Gruyere on Sourdough
  #2 Smoked Ham and Cheddar with Apple on Sourdough
  #3 Honey Smoked Turkey and Cranberry Cheddar with Pear on Pecan Rye 
  #4 Gruyere and Honey Ham with Curry Apricot Mustard on Pecan Rye 
• Winter Salad with Apple, Pear, Pecans, and Yuzu Goat Cheese on Spring Greens 
• Spiced Smoked Squash Soup  
  
  

6 Rosé Wines from California 

• Steinbeck Cuvee Rhone Rosé, Paso Robles 
• 2020 Giornata Ramato, Paso Robles 
• 2022 AJA Vineyards Wildflower Rosé, Paso Robles
• 2022 Grandeur Rosé, Monterey
• 2022 Toad Hollow Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma 
• 2020 Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma

Steinbeck Cuvee Rhone Rosé, Paso Robles

ABV: 
SRP: 
Grapes: 
I bought this at the Garagiste Silent auction fundraiser for scholarships along with this stunning Steinbeck sparkler.

One of only 8 bottles produced in the Methode Traditionelle. I couldn’t find any information about this wine on their website however Winemaker Bryan Widstrand will be at the 2024 Rhone Rangers Experience February 18 participating in the seminar to discuss his 2021 Cuvee Rhone Sparkling from Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery. I’m looking forward to attending that seminar and I will update this post! 

Appearance:  Coral, copper, rose gold, platinum rim

Aroma: Strawberry, raspberry, camomile, ocean salinity, mint, spearmint. 

Palate: Tart fresh fruit, strawberry, raspberry, clove, cranberry, dry, rhubarb, it was a bit flat as the bubbles dissipated quickly, you yearn for more of the flavors in this wine, bright and tart without being austere, the bubbles are gentle and delicate, croissant with fresh raspberries, this is a lovely delicious wine, a wine that you want to continue sipping and enjoying. 

Pairing: So very perfect with our Curry apricot mustard sandwich , perfect with the yeasty con rye bread, the mustard was perfect, such a fantastic pairing, Super fantastic with our turkey cranberry cheddar pear think thanksgiving, you want to run your tongue around your palate and collect these flavors to have with this wine, the raspberry fruit in the wine is brought out by this holiday inspired sandwich, the cheddar ham apple sandwich was a very nice pairing, the cheddar apple and ham is enhanced by the butter on the toasted bread and the richness of the sandwich, the traditional Monte Cristo was quite yummy with the wine, all of the layers of flavors in the dish were enhanced with the wine, It was even great with a bit of raspberry on top of the sandwich, the wine totally handles the raspberry jam, great with the salad loving the orange oil and rosemary in the olive oil. The flavors infuse the pear and the textures and flavors of the fruit enhance the wine so nicely. Good with the soup bringing out a rich umami, the smoke, spice, and richness are enhanced with the wine.

2020 Giornata Ramato, Bassi Ranch Vineyard, SLO

ABV: 13%
SRP: $35
Grapes: Pinot Grigio
Sue bought this at the winery.

Unfined and unfiltered, amphora wine — yes! Plus the grapes are farmed biodynamically near Avila Beach. Sue visited the winery’s tasting room near Paso Robles and raved, buying several wines, and getting this one for me for us to write about because she knew I’d love it — which I did! Learn more about Giornata and their passion for Italian grapes here.

Appearance:  Deep copper, a bit cloudy, sunset, tangerine, orange rim, tangerine or pale gold

Aroma: Tangerine, apricot, raspberry, cotton candy, guava, rhubarb, fresh earth,

Palate: Tart bright tangerine, blood orange, nicely structured, present tannins, salinity, acidity, umami richness, clay, cinnamon, I love the freshness and the richness of the wine without being heavy, 

Pairing: Very nice with the soup, the wine brings out the savory qualities in the soup rather than the sweet spices, in all of the other wines that worked together with this wine highlighted the sweet squash and the baking spices in the soup. This wine brings forth a savory earthy quality in the soup and is while quite different equally as great as the other pairings. Very good with the salad loves the spice in the nuts and the olive oil brings out tangerine qualities in the wine. Yummy with the traditional Monte Cristo sandwich. The apple cheddar sandwich was so rich with the wine and provided us with a wow flavor experience, the crunch in the apple added to that wow. There was also a blood orange finish with the pairing. We did not care for the cranberry cheddar pear sandwich with this wine, it just was not good at all. With our curry mustard sandwich, we loved the wine, we loved the curry mustard, but we did not like the two together.

2022 AJA Vineyards Wildflower Rosé

ABV: 13.7%
SRP: 
Grapes: 
sample for my review

This is a great little winery located in the Santa Monica Mountains just above the famous beaches of Malibu but accessible from the 101 aka “Ventura Highway.” They have vineyards on the property but they also buy grapes like the ones in this wine. I’ll be writing about more of their wines soon along with a visit to some of the vineyards. 

Appearance:  Ballerina Pink,  rose gold, Stanley Cup Pink, Crystal Clear, Platinum rim

Aroma: Bubble gum, cherry, raspberry, mint, lots of cherry, wildflowers (maybe because there is the power of suggestion) bee pollen, nicely engaging nose, banana

Palate: Tart pomello, strawberry, strawberry lemonade or raspberry lemonade, limestone, 

Pairing: The apricot curry mustard sandwich was so absolutely amazing together with the wine, the pear gureyer smoked turkey sandwich was not good with the wine at all, too sweet, all wrong, gummy bubble gum in my mouth, very good with the cheddar apple sandwich we imagined that if there were a couple slices of crispy bacon on the sandwich it would be that much better, also quite good with the traditional Monte Cristo the smoke in the ham and the honey turkey work well with the wine, so good with the salad bringing out an orange oil flavor, the fruit is not too sweet, the cheese is rich and creamy, also loves the spicy kick in the spiced pecans, the soup were not perfect companions, the soups and the spices were a bit tooo much for the wine, the soup over powered the wine and made the wine a bit too bitter. 

2022 Grandeur Rosé, Monterey County

ABV: 13.0%
SRP: 
Grapes: organic
sample for my review

Appearance:  Rose, provencial, pretty in pink, very pale pink, platinum pink rim

Aroma: Sweet rose petals, mossy stone, creekside, sage, 

Palate: Tart pink grapefruit, astringent, clay, tannins, acidity, tart cherry, crabapple, orange oil

Pairing: Very nice with our smoked squash soup, fantastic with the spices in the soup, the soup was perfectly sweet with the wine, while the salad was nice with the wine, but it was a bit too sweet with the wine and left a tart flavor in the mouth, Good with the traditional #1 a very solid pairing, the contrast between the salty cheddar and the crisp sweet apple works perfectly with the wine, fantastic with our Monte Cristo #3 it loved the cranberry cheddar and the ripe pear and the honey smoked turkey, really good with the curry apricot mustard on sandwich #4 this sandwich and the wine really resonates together. Serve this wine with Indian food, some sort of chicken curry should be the perfect pair for this wine,

2022 Toad Hollow Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

ABV: 10.5%
SRP: 
Grapes: Pinot Noir
sample for my review

Appearance:  Very pale pink, pale salmon, platinum rim, more color in the bottle than in the glass, 

Aroma: Grapefruit, raspberry, fruit punch, cherry, bubble gum, sweet tart candies, banana, strawberry banana smoothy, 

Palate: Bone dry, tart, light, fresh, tart fresh strawberry, tart raspberry, eureka lemon finish, mouthwatering salinity, nori

Pairing: The curry apricot mustard on our sandwich #4 was a bit too sweet for the wine, the gruyere pear sandwich was too sweet for the wine, nothing did anybody any favors, great with the cheddar apple sandwich, it loved the salty rich cheddar also likes the sourdough on the sandwich, this was our favorite sandwich with this wine, the traditional Monte Cristo was also very nice with the wine, it was Toad ally happy with the meal, the sweet fruit and yuzu cheese was a bit too sweet for the wine, the baking spices in our soup were a bit too sweet for the soup and made the wine a bit sour.

2020 Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

ABV: 11.9%
SRP: 
Grapes: Pinot Noir
sample for my review

Appearance:  Pale Copper, pale rose gold, platinum rim

Aroma: Wild roses, mossy creekside, bramble fruit, dried roses, potpourri,

Palate: Raspberry, tart strawberry, ruby grapefruit on the finish, a bit of creekside funk, rosewater, 

Pairing: Very good with the spices in our rich smoked squash soup, kind of gives the impression of pumpkin ice cream, creamy and delicious with the wine, works alright with our winter fruit salad, the fruit is  very sweet and hits it off with the tart fresh wine, very good with the traditional Monte Cristo sandwich,  the wine loved the smoked ham cheddar and apple Monte Cristo it was all about the smoked ham and the wine in this pairing, the honey ham gruyere and pear Monte Cristio was my favorite of them all, it loved the sweetness of the pear and the nutty quality of the cheese, perfect with the apricot curry mustard in our 4th Monte Cristo sandwich, so great with all of them, 

Still thirsty for rose? Want to expand your bouquet of roses?

On Wine Predator, check out 6 Old World Rosé Wines — with a twist– paired with Croque Monsieur !

• France: one sparkling, one still
  NV La Burgondie Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Rose, AOC 
  yes it’s sparkling but from where? and how much??
  NV Maison Lorgeril “O de Rose” Languedoc
  French rose but not from Provence!
• Czech Republic
  2021 Thaya Blaufrankisch Rose Wine, South Moravia, Czech Republic
  how many wines have you had from the Czech Republic? (check out this Chardonnay!)
• Germany
  2018 August Kessler “The Daily August” Rheingau Rose of Pinot Noir
  yes, there’s lots of PN in Germany — and some of it becomes rose!
• Portugal
  2021 Adega Mayor “Tudo ao Molho” Alentejo
  a blend of red and white grapes vinified together 
• Italy 
  2021 Frignano Sgarbato Pet Nat Uva Tosca Sparkling Wine
  a super rare Italian grape — and a Pet Nat which means more bubbles! 

And the Wine Pairing weekend writers have more for you too! Read host Camilla Mann’s invite here.

• A Dozen Rosés for Valentines and Galentines Part 1: 6 Old World Wines + Croque Monsieur
• and Part 2: 6 CA Wines + Monte Cristo Sandwiches by Wine Predator…Gwendolyn Alley
• Is Pink Wine the New Winter White? by My Full Wine Glass
• Kimchi Spaghetti with Black Girl Magic Rosé by Cooking Chat
• Marry Me Chicken and Cantina Zaccagnini Il Vino Dal Tralcetto Rose; A Perfect Pairing for your Valentine by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pink Pét-Nats from Around the World with Some Loved Up Bites by Culinary Cam
• Please Be Vine, Rosé Bubbles! by The Quirky Cork
• Rose-shaped pasta and Rosé! by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Salmon en Papillote with Coopers Hawk Katie Lee Biegel Rosé by Our Good Life
• Shrimp Scampi Pizza Paired with Masciarelli Montepulciano Rosé by Vino Travels