Don't Blush When You Drink Pink

We all know pink drinks are thought of as feminine and sweet, but when it comes to wine, it's time to simply get over this misconception. C'mon guys, girls are impressed when you can pull off that pink shirt...this same move works for drinking the pink. Most often referred to as rosé, pink wines are made from red grapes. When a red grape is pressed, white juice comes out. A wine's color comes from the skin, and the depth of the color depends on how long the skin is allowed to remain in contact with the juice.

Serious wine drinkers do not discriminate; they search for the best rosés out there. There are many that are hard to find, get, and afford, frankly. However, there is a sea of gorgeous pink juice out there just waiting to be discovered, and spring and summer is the prime time to pick up the best examples. Many are released during this time of year, and it just so happens that they taste so good when it is hot outside.

If you are still struggling with the idea of describing the color of your wine as "salmon," "magenta" or "carnation," just think of rosé as light red, such as Pinot Noir. Like heavier varietals such as Malbec? Try a Malbec rosé...it's great to be able to chill down a light red for the summer and get a lot of the same flavors you would get from your favorite grape. Try Dona Paula's Los Cardos Malbec Rosé from Argentina...all of the spice, black fruit and meatiness of Malbec, but with a light body and refreshing zippy finish.

If you are a fan of the still-fashionable silky Pinot Noir, there are many tasty examples to choose from. One new release from a tiny winery in Sonoma called Taft Street is downright delicious, and fine...I admit it: it's a touch sweet. But crisp acidity makes it balanced and so tasty as the mercury rises. Another is from Burgundy, considered the best region for Pinot in the world. Bruno Clair's Marsannay rosé has a cult following due to its uncanny ability to refresh and impress in one fell swoop.

Look to the >Rhône Valley of France for spicu, fruity, bone-dry values that are super food-friendly and quaffable. Most are made from blends of Syrah, Cinsaul, Grenache and Mourvedre. Check out the widely available La Vielle Ferme, a steal for all of the fresh cherry and spice it has to offer. A domestic example that is worth the hefty price tag and search is Tablas Creek from Paso Robles. This producer, known for sustainable farming practices (green and pink!), limestone soils and a rich heritage (it's a joint venture of the Perrin family of the Rhone Valley, known for the famed Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands (one of the premier importers in the U.S.) makes one of the juiciest, complex pink wines from California. It's like serious watermelon juice with a punch.

If it is elegance and the perfect salmon sashimi pairing you crave, look to a sparkling Cabernet Franc rosé from the Loire Valley of France, such as Louis de Grenelle Saumur. This is bubbly that dances on your palate, with a clean, mineral-driven finish. Spain offers an embarrassment of riches in the pink category, with the best being from the Garnacha (also known as Grenache). Watch for the release of Artazuri from Navarra, a perennial favorite of those in the know —for good reason!

So ladies and gents, raise your glasses and cheers to drinking pink in harmony, and without shame!

— Written by Alexis Ewing

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