By Simon Taylor
Now is the time of year where we cautiously push the winter clothing to the back of the wardrobe yet leave them accessible enough for the inevitable Bank Holiday big freeze.
We take the cover off the barbeque, we check the expiry date on the suncream (went off last month, obviously…) and we pull out the flip flops from underneath the wellies. Chores done; when the sun does come out to play we are ready to drink Rosé in the back garden. Rosé wine is synonymous with summer and its light fruity flavour works in harmony with casual lunches, lazy afternoons and as a mellow sundowner.
Contrary to popular belief, and with great respect to higher education students at house parties, rosé is not made by mixing red and white wine. Rosé is produced by allowing grape skins to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, usually just a few hours, which gives the wine its enticing pink hue. The grapes are usually red varieties and the limited skin contact imparts both colour and subtle flavours. Another myth to dispel is that the shade of pink – from almost translucent salmon to near magenta – denotes sweetness. It does not. Colour is determined by grape variety and how long the skins of the grape stays in contact with the juice. Once the winemaker has the desired colour the juice is separated from the skins and fermented like white wine.
So what Rosé wines should you be enjoying in the sunshine?
Our Felicette Rosé at £12.95 a bottle is a charmingly delicate French wine with aromas of fresh red berries and hints of citrus zest. On the palate, it is crisp and lively, displaying notes of strawberry, raspberry, and subtle floral undertones. The finish is clean and refreshing, making it a perfect companion for summer afternoons with friends and family.
Staff and customer favourite Terre dei Buth Frizzante Rosé at £11.95 a bottle is an organic Italian sparkling wine from Veneto. This has notes of wild strawberry, redcurrant and rose petals on the nose. The palate is crisp, displaying fresh red berry flavours complemented by soft citrus and a hint of minerality. Its light, refreshing finish makes it ideal as an aperitif. One of best sellers all year round.
Soalheiro Mineral Rose is from one of our favourite wineries in northern Portugal. This is pure class, blended from Alvarinho and Pinot Noir, it’s made in that French style and has amazing, tropical fruit flavours along with summer berries and a deep minerality. Try this with some shellfish and sunshine. £24
Finally, if you want a classic Provence Rosé look no further than our St. Pierre Tradition from a long-established winemaking family working just north of Saint-Tropez. This has everything you need in a rose; pale crisp peachy fruit with strawberries and citrus zest and a mineral finish. £14.50
If you like the sound of these then pop in and try one, we have wines open every Saturday.
Click HERE to find out more about The Stroud Wine Company
VISIT OUR WITHEYS YARD SHOP
5 Witheys Yard,
55 High Street,
Stroud,
Gloucestershire
GL5 1AS
VISIT OUR GRIFFIN MILL SHOP
Unit 4,
Griffin Mill,
London Rd.
Stroud,
GL5 2AZ
