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Types of Rose WineIf you want to know how many different types of rose wine there are, look at a list of red wines. Sound confusing. Well, roses, at least the good ones, are made from red wine grapes. The biggest difference is the amount of time that the wine stays in contact with the grape skins. For most roses, it is for a couple of hours to a couple of days. The result is a lighter colored, lighter wine. Typically from pink or light orange, to darker, fuller pinks and salmons. Beware fuschia and bright orange. They are signs of cheap wine and browning is a no-no with these. They are for drinking within months, maybe a year of bottling. Trying to save one of these is asking for a bad experience. There is another way to make a rose though. It is called bleeding and it produces the blush wines of California for instance. This involves making a white wine and then bleeding (saignee in France) juice off the top of a red wine. This condenses the red and causes the white to blush. These are typically your sweeter less dry wines. That does not always hold true but is a good line between the two methods. The grapes most likely used in making a rose are: -Grenache: in the case of rose typically smells of berries, strawberry and blackberry are common. -Pinot Noir: typically has scents of strawberry and cherry. -Gamay: a pleasant grape that is good as a rose or a red. I have had it as a rose or as a red in Beaujolais. It has a fruity flavor, berries are definitely present, as are vanilla and sometimes oak. The other fruits are debatable and dependent on the producer. Truth be told that is the case with any wine. -Cabernet Franc: smells of berries, and green bell pepper. Just like any good red would. In the south of France, where it is said the sun shines through the locals accent, are the best types of rose wine. I spent some time there one summer and this is what I would drink with dinner. It is so popular that there is an appellation, Tavel, that is devoted to the making of rose. Here's a video about a great Tavel rose that my friend and I made. I have to say, this was a good wine for a rose. No wine, except a rose, can claim to be from this appellation. These, along with Grenache, are some of the grapes they use: -Mourvedre: This is the main grape for the South of France. It tastes of berries again. Strong as a red, but more approachable as a rose. Makes a great blend with Gamay. -Cinsault: strawberry. A great blending grape and likely to be found in french roses. All in all, these make good dry wines. The white zinfandel, which has a tendency to be sweet, does not really fall into this category. These wines are dry and a red wine drinkers answer to summer and fall drinking. Return from Types of Rose Wine to Wine For Beginners Homepage
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