Despite the common misconception rosé wine, is not created by blending white wines with red wines. In fact this practice is considered to be one of the most inauthentic representations of rosé wine. Rather, rosé wine varies in hue from a pale orange all the way through various stages of pink and even purple through the processing techniques used. The most common method of creating rose wine is the early harvest of the grapes. Red grapes are used in the process, but by harvesting just before they are truly ripened the natural tannin that contributes to the wine’s color is not as potent. Thus, the grape’s mild tannin leaves a light coloring behind. Using grapes that are not quite ripe also alters the general flavor of the wine.
Also referred to as “blush” wine, a rosé is not considered a prime wine by experts or by connoisseurs of quality wine. Despite its poor reputation among the wine profession circles, many consumers find the unique crisp style of rose to be the perfect blend for their wine tastes. White Zinfandel, which is a rosé wine rather than a white wine, reached a high mark of popularity especially in the California regions over the past ten years. This increase in popularity among Californians prompted an increased popularity throughout the United States.
White Zinfandel is crafted through the unique process of bleeding red wine. When a red wine goes through the bleeding process, the winemaker removes a predetermined amount of liquid. This creates a stronger and more tannic wine that has become quite popular amongst red wine drinkers. The liquid that was removed during the bleeding process is then bottled as a totally different wine. This is the White Zinfandel that ends up on the shelves.
Rosé wine can be produced through the same process that whites and reds are produced. The basic difference is the length of time the grape skins are permitted to linger with the fresh wine mixture. Since the leeching of tannin from the grape skin is mostly responsible for the color of the wine, limiting exposure creates a pale pink or even nearly white result.
Rosé wines are experiencing an upswing in their popularity. All around the globe many consumers are venturing into the rosé wine collection to add variety to their wine collection. Many are finding that they actually prefer the taste of the rosé to the high tannic reds or the drier and bolder whites. Rosé is generally considered to be a wine that is consumed during the summer months. Just as many white wine drinkers return to the rich red hues throughout the winter months, rose wine drinkers also associate their preferences for red in the colder dark months.
Many consumers find that dry rosé wines mimic the taste of white wines very closely. There has been some questioning whether rosé wines offer the same health benefits of red wine. While this question has not yet been thoroughly answered as of this writing, many rosé wine drinkers made the switch because of the supposed health benefits without giving up the taste of white wine.
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