Its summer, and that means it’s hot. And sometimes in hot weather you don’t want the heavier food or drinks that you would normally enjoy; you want something light and fresh instead. This is why grilling takes the place that stewing had in the winter and why deeper red wines may seem like a bit too much for this hot weather. You want something brighter and lighter, which is why I recommend trying rose wine.
Rose wines where originally made by bleeding off some of the juice to intensify red wines. Rather than waste the juice, they fermented it too. That made beautiful pink colored and alcohol light rose wines. These bright wines tend to contain flavors like strawberry and watermelon, don’t those sound like perfect summer flavors? Rose wine is so popular, in fact, that some vineyards like to pick younger grapes just for rose wine. Younger grapes are more acidic and not as sweet, which makes the wines lively and sunny. Imagine a pairing of fresh fruits and a wine decanter of a beautiful rose. The best thing about this lovely, light summer favorite is that few bottles cost more than $20.
So instead of getting just white wines for your lighter summer wine enjoyment, try a rose. They are affordable, delicious and have a long history of making people happy. These lovely wines have flavors ranging from barely strawberry or raspberry to cranberry with strawberry and lemon. Search around and try a few to find your favorite.