When warm weather arrives, the pink wine flows.
I've got a thing for pink. My neighbors celebrate the arrival of spring by flaunting their green thumbs or heading out to the ballpark. I always kick things off with a bottle of rosé wine. This past winter, I scanned wine lists in anticipation of warm weather—and in preparation for my Pink Party: a backyard gathering to toast the arrival of rosé season.
Technically, I could throw the party any time rosé is on the shelf yearround; but the new vintages are released in the spring. More importantly, a bottle of chilled rosé just doesn't taste right until the sun's out. Roses are ideal on a warm day: They have the light crispness of white wines but the multidimensional flavor profiles of reds. I'm not talking about the sappysweet blush wines that were popular in the '80s. The pink stuff that's popular these days is much dryer and more complex. Winemakers crush red grapes such as Grenache or Syrah and let the juice steep briefly with the skins before a long fermentation. The result is a completely versatile, sophisticated wine that plays off spicy and tangy foods as well as richer and more subtle ones.
With that in mind, I put together a menu to bring out the best in every bottle: Mediterranean-inspired tuna tea sandwiches, a Spanish-style tortilla (potato and egg tart) with a layer of smoked salmon, and a batch of addictively spicy popcorn. I packed the popcorn into single-serve grab bags to avoid any fi ghts over the last kernel. For dessert I stuck to my pink palette with fresh strawberries, sweet ricotta and shortbread. At the risk of overdoing the theme, I suggested—okay, begged—my friends to wear pink. They didn't come through, but when the party started, we were all seeing the world through rosé-colored glasses.
WINE LIST
(Spain, $8)
This dry wine from Spain's
famed Rioja region is easy
drinking subtle, light
and ideal for the rosé drinking
novice. Do as the
Spaniards do and drink
it with foods that won't
overshadow it, like mild
cheeses and the tortilla.
(California, $16)
Just one look at this
gorgeous, garnet-colored
rosé from Paso Robles and
you know it's going to be
the richest of the bunch.
Perfect for red-wine
lovers, it's a great match
for strong fl avors like the
tuna, olives and capers
in the tea sandwiches.
Treat it like a Syrah.
(France, $12)
This light, orange-tinged
wine is certifi ed organic.
It works well with simple
fl avors, such as pasta, white
meats and the tortilla.
(Argentina, $13)
From one of Argentina's
premier winemakerséand
made with the country's star
grape, Malbecéthis wine
tastes like strawberries with
a hint of sweetness.
It quells the heat of
spicy popcorn.
(Italy, $10)
A little sweet, a little
effervescent and totally
delicious, this Italian
sparkling wine is part
of Mionetto's casual "Il"
line. It was made for the
strawberry and ricotta
dessert but works well as a
digestif, too.
(Australia, $17)
This wine is dry,
sophisticated and complexé
a wine for serious rosé fans.
It can stand up to a lot, so
pair it with grilled meats or
other hearty fare.
(California, $10)
This zippy blend of four
varietals packs a fruity
punch. Drink it with
light desserts.
