Don’t be such a sissy, it’s okay to drink pink wine! In fact if dudes were smart, they would jump on board the pink parade for one reason…the ladies dig pink. We’re not talking about your sweet and fruity Sutter Homes White Zinfandel kind of pink, we’re talking real, masculine, dry, flavorful, intense Rose of Sangiovese, Syrah, Grenache, and more. Gaining an appreciation for pink will open up your palate to a whole new tasting experience.

Rosé is made from red wine grapes. The most common method of production is leaving the skin in contact with the juice for 2-3 days and then discarded as fermentation continues. The skin imparts a pinkish (sometimes salmon or orange) color to the juice. Dry rosé tends to provide a much more sophisticated taste because there is little to no residual sugar. Rosé makes a perfect spring time and summer sipping wine because it is refreshing, crisp, and light. The perfect accompaniment to a day at the beach, lake, or…on a boat!

I recently participated in a rosé tasting with Paul Gregutt and Randall PR. Paul is the Northwest editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine and writes weekly columns for the Seattle Times. While Paul and several wine writers tasted through eight dry rosé from a houseboat in the Puget Sound, the event was broadcast live over the internet including great interaction through tweets and TasteLive.com

I received three of the eight wines being tasted and added one more to make for a beautiful bouquet of blossoming aroma and flavor. Listening to Paul and his guests talk through the wine tasting was quite a treat. It is pretty clear to see why Paul is such a respected member of the wine community.

Things overheard on the Twitter Machine

The NectarView

2008 Skylite Cellars Rosé

• The Stuff: 100% Rose from Sangiovese from Stone Ridge Vineyard
• The Swirl: Strawberry rhubarb color with average clarity
• The Sniff: Light scents of under-ripe strawberry and hints of peach.
• The Sip: Trying not to overuse the stereotype strawberry flavor, this wine comes across as a very bold offering with a fantastically long and crisp finish. Other flavors of peach and white flowers grace the tongue prior to being whisked away by the ample acidity.
• The Score: At $17, the Skylite Rosé is full of flowery fruit and strawberry spice. I can score this wine a 3+ out of 5 and would certainly recommend it.

2009 Barnard Griffin Rosé  

• The Stuff: 100% Sangiovese; 12.4% ABV
• The Swirl: Light amethyst in color with shimmering jewelry quality. Also seems to display a slight effervescence of bubbles that dissipate a few minutes after the pour.
• The Sniff: A restrained strawberry with white pepper on the nose. Very reminiscent of a raspberry flavored tootsie pop (similar to that in color too).
• The Sip: At first taste I picked out a tart orange rind flavor that lightly gave way to a wash of cantaloupe and other melons. The effervescence continued in the mouth reminding me of strawberry flavored Nerds candy. A hint of residual sugar gives just a small touch of sweetness.
• The Score: At only $12, this is some serious QPR summer drinking. While the flavor is not as intense in the other Rosé tasted, I score this a solid 3+ out of 5 for value.

While eight wines in total were reviewed and the entire program will hopefully be uploaded to the Randall PR YouTube channel, the last two of my Rose tastings were tasted by Paul Gregutt and Sean Sullivan of WAWineReport.com. I embedded this video below so you could see these two Washington Wine powerhouses at work.

2009 Waters Winery Rosé

• The Stuff: 75% Syrah from estate vineyards and 25% Viognier. The two were co-fermented; 185 cases produced
• The Swirl: Pale orange hue with salmon color infusions. Elegant color with eye catching clarity
• The Sniff: An orchestra of beautiful flavors with solo performances by tropical flowers, light sweet perfume, and peaches.
• The Sip: As I mentioned in the video, this wine could potentially be mistaken for a white wine in a blind tasting challenge. The Syrah makes an appearance by presenting a nice round light sweet strawberry and firm finish that shows a beautiful hint of white chocolate. Other flavors are a subtle tart presentation of rhubarb and flowers.
• The Score: At $18 this was the first bottle to be emptied. I score it a 4 out of 5.

The 09 Waters Winery Rosé is as stunningly beautiful on the palate as it is on the eyes. The mix of light orange and salmon colors will dance in the sunlight of a hot summer day by the water. The crisp and abundant flavors of tart rhubarb relax to a gentle wash of juicy strawberries and tubarose flowers. A sophisticated dry wine to cool down a hot summer day.

2009 Dusted Valley Ramblin’ Rosé

• The Stuff: 52% Mourvedre, 29% Counoise, 16% Syrah, 2% Viognier; 14.2% ABV; 273 cases produced; Screw cap enclosure
• The Swirl: More jewelry in a glass with this Rosé. Subtle orange and salmon hues provide richness to the glass.
• The Sniff: Very dynamic nose with aromas of sweet strawberry, raspberry, and steely minerality.
• The Sip: Very soft and balanced with a flavor that starts with flowers and opens up to raspberry. The finish is dry without being tart, but the wine seems to lack some acidity. A lot of fruit flavor without coming off like candy.
• The Score: At $18, the flavor and aroma of the Ramblin’ Rose are dynamic and forward. I score it 3+ out of 5. The seeming lack of acidity knocked this down from being a 4. Pick this wine up for under $15 and you have yourself a bargain.

Bonus pic with Clive Pursehouse “on a boat”

* Wine was provided as an industry sample with the intention to review