Rose Nothing to Laugh At

Filed in archive Wine Tasting on September 5, 2006

Rose is a light wine, so it's not always given a lot of respect. Not often pair with food, this is a good grape to drink solo, especially when it's hot out. Or, at least, that's my opinion when it comes to this "pink" vintage.

According to this article from the South Bend Tribune, rose deserves a litte more attention:

According to Chris Moersch, of Round Barn Winery in Baroda, it's a common misconception that all pink wines are like the often ridiculed white zinfadel -- sweet, in other words, and not at all serious.

He and other local winemakers beg to differ.

"Rosés are some of my favorite wines," Moersch says.

Round Barn currently offers a sparkling Artesia rosé, perfect for pairing with shrimp, oysters or a light cheese.

The bubbly pink vintage is a favorite among customers -- as are quite a few local rosés.

"If you like sweet wines, you'll absolutely love a good rosé, and if you like dry wines, rosés are so much fun ... because you're not being so serious," says Kaitlyn Lemon of Lemon Creek Winery.

That's not, to say, however, that rosés can't be rich and complex. Lemon Creek, for instance, offers three very different rosés: a shiraz rosé, a baco rosé and a ruby rosé.

The baco is not unlike an Italian sangria, and the ruby is sweet, soft and fruity. The shiraz, meanwhile, features intriguing controversial flavors.

"It's not dry, it's not sweet. It's very middle of the road, actually. It could be a kind of crossover wine for those who are used to sweet and want to try something drier and more complex to slowly change their palate," Lemon says.