With Memorial Day Weekend in our rearview mirror, it’s officially rosé season in America. The pink wine is so popular, in fact, that there’s a shortage almost every summer. But can you tell the difference between a table rosé and one that will truly impress? Seven sommeliers weigh in on their favorite bottles.
Pamela Wiznitzer, President of the United States Bartenders’ Guild
Suggests Ruffino Sparkling Rosé (Italy)
Why You Like It: Not only can it be found in most liquor stores across the country, but the price point ($12) is friendly. It’s fresh and fragrant with heavy notes of strawberry and slight hints of rose petals.
Drink It With: It’s not too delicate to stand up to robust food, like BBQ, but also mixes well with fresh juices and other spirits. Try putting it in a punch!
Joshua Nadal, NoHo Hospitality Group
Suggests Chateau Peyrassol Rosé (France)
Why You Like It: This is my ultimate benchmark for Provence Rosé—nothing says fun and summer more than Peyrassol. It’s crushable, delicious and very high quality.
Drink It With: Ideally, find this in a 3 liter—one of the sexiest bottles around. Drink it as soon as you are done with your morning coffee, all day long, with or without food, when you are thirsty, into the wee hours, while smoking a joint and in all situations.
Matthew Conway, Marc Forgione
Suggests Juilien Braud Forty Ounce Rosé (France)
Why You Like It: I can drink nice wine out of a 40! The packaging is brilliant and the wine is better than it needs to be.
Drink It With: Going to a BBQ, picnic or party this summer ya gotta have one of these in hand!!
Cedric Nicaise, Eleven Madison Park
Suggests Channing Daughters and Macari Vineyards (Long Island)
Why You Like It: I love rosés grown in coastal regions like Corsica, the Canary Islands and even Long Island. Proximity to the ocean gives the wines a briny, almost salty component. Locally, I enjoy Channing Daughters and Macari Vineyards from Long Island.
Drink It With: Rosé is very versatile. It can fill the void between red and white; it can go with meats or seafood. [And while] I like young fresh rosé… I think one aspect that’s often overlooked is its ageablity. Even one additional year of aging can make a world of difference.
Yannick Benjamin, New York’s University Club
Chooses Chateau Minuty Cotes de Provence 2016 (France)
Why You Like It: A magnificent and harmonious blend of grenache and cinsault, the wine offers notes of peach and candied orange. It’s the perfect thirst quencher to beat the heat and the harsh humidity of summer.
Drink it With: Fresh shellfish or a mozzarella tomato salad!
Victoria James, Piora
Suggests Railsback Frères, Les Rascasses (California)
Why You Like It: This pink wine made the old school way will transport you to the south of France without the prices you’d normally have to pay.
Drink It With: Drink with the traditional Provençal goods- artichokes and aioli, olive tapenade, anchovies, olives and, of course, bouillabaisse.
Hannah Grossman, Chicago’s Monteverde & Pastificio
Suggests Malabaila Rosato, 100% Nebbiolo (Italy)
Why You Like It: Nebbiolo is greatly aromatic and as a rosato, it is perfumed delicately. It is then transformed into a structured experience on the palate, letting Nebbiolo’s firm acidic and tannic quality transfer, even outside of its traditional red counterpart, shown through a delicate, pale pink with slight orange hue.
Drink It With: I love pairing rosés like this with richer dishes to keep the palate from getting too bogged down, but with the structure of Nebbiolo, it doesn’t get lost amongst these bigger dishes. Try a simple grilled pork.
Cathy Mantuano, Wine Director, Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago
Suggests Estate Rosé Stolpman Vineyards (California)
Why You Like It: At Terzo Piano, we like to support people and products with [non-profit] initiatives. Peter Stolpman and Ruben Solorzano founded the La Cuadrilla Foundation in order to expand their commitment to sustainable employment. The nonprofit donates all proceeds to local health clinics. Plans include sponsoring college scholarships for the children of Agricultural workers in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Drink It With: Delicious with spicy foods. And even in the winter I like rosé with Roast Chicken…if there’s any bottles left!
