Summer en Rose
Pretty pink oozes summer vibes and gives sparkling rosé wine its lovely light look and feel. Wine expert Peter Keller confirms that refreshing, lighter wines are a real hit on a warm summer’s day. And sparkling rosé wine ticks all the boxes as a thirst-quenching drink that slips down rather nicely.
´Sparkling rosé wine has been around for quite some time. They were drinking almost-white wine that had a soft pink hue to it in the Champagne and Alsace regions all the way back in the 16th century. It was the legendary Madame Veuve Clicquot who came up with the idea. She used a red grape variety and invented the riddling rack to aid the remuage process. This involves the bottles being gent-ly shaken to dislodge any sediment towards the cork.´
´Unlike with dry wines, there is the option of mixing white and red wine when creating sparkling varieties. As a general rule, the proportion of red wine is 10–20% – just enough to create that signature pink colour. The brightness is determined by the length of time the grape juice is in contact with the skins. The spectacular palette of potential pinks ranges from pale blush to bright salmon.´
´Sparkling rosé wine is best served at between 10 and 12 degrees in a classic champagne flute. The narrow design is ideal for that beautiful bubbly sensation. White wine glasses are another good option, but champagne coupes are best avoided as the fizz will disappear before you know it.´
“The flavour is largely influenced by the grape varieties used. Pinot Noir is a popular choice with delicate, elegant aromas, whilst Cabernet Sauvignon is a punchier, more decadent option that’s altogether richer and more full-bodied.”
´Women may be attracted to the colour pink and there is no denying that sparkling rosé wine has no end of female fans. But it’s harder to
assess if they’re in the majority, as we don’t have any concrete figures. What we do know is that men do enjoy drinking this on-trend fizz too and often indulge in a glass or two.´
´Sparkling rosé wine works well in cocktails – just try it in a melon and raspberry punch! But it also goes nicely with all kinds of fish dishes. And here’s an inside secret for you: serve it with lamb. The bubbles in the wine cut through that juicy fat and add a welcome light touch to the hearty meat. What more could you want on a warm summer’s day? Just make sure that you go for a dry sparkling wine.´
´Invest in fine sparkling wines. It’s well worth shelling out a little more so you don’t end up with something mass-produced and devoid of character. Rosé champagne is the ultimate bubbly beauty, but you’ll find that fabulous fizz is produced elsewhere, including in Italy (Franciacorta), Spain (Cava), Germany (Winzersekt) and even Switzerland (Schaumwein).´
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