October surprise: I’m still drinking rosé!

This series was founded five years ago on the premise that pink is not limited to the summer season. The increase in the number of regions producing rosé juice from local grapes means a wider variety of styles, textures and colors. But they have one thing in common: a friendly attitude to food, especially to transitional and seasonal menus. Indeed, Master of Wine Jancis Robinson writes: “I have always maintained that rosé is for food, not summer—a particularly good rosé made for wine and not substitutes for alcopop.” OK! Are you going to argue with her? I didn’t think so, so here are a few things to consider:

PACIFIC NORTHWEST

Chateau Ste. Michelle Pink Indian Wells 2022, Columbia Valley. A solid performer from a stalwart Washington State producer. Part of the “modern winemaking” series. This is a light, pale wine with tones of peach, cherry and watermelon. Dry, contains only 1 g/piece. and 90 calories/cup, but feels hard.

Echolands Winery 2023 Taggart Estate Vineyards Cabernet Franc Rosé, Walla Walla Washington.. High floral notes along with bright strawberries and summer fruits along with a bowl of fresh cut melon, water, honeydew and cantaloupe. Not at all what I expected, it was more of the greenish, stalky character that CabFranc is known for. The related Grenache rose from Blue Mountain Vineyard is very light in color and temperament, with strawberry notes and a slight zesty note. It paired perfectly with a salad of grilled salmon, hearty greens and Marzano tomatoes.

Fairsing Vineyard Rosé Pinot Noir 2023, Yamhill-Carleton AVA. The beautiful clover label reflects the natural wildflower ground cover you see throughout this eco-conscious AVA product. This is an estate grown wine from Burgundy clones (Dijon 777 and Pommard). Dried cherries and strawberries, very pleasant, maybe a little too easy to drink.

Liquid light roseWashington state. With just 95 calories per glass and negligible residual sugar, this Cabernet-based rose, named for the substance’s “recently discovered fifth form,” is more filling than you might think, with its ripe tropical fruit, notes of guava and melon.

Montinor Estate 2023 Pinot Noir Rosé, Yamhill-Carleton AVA. Made from organic grapes, it’s light pink, very dry, fresh and tangy, with strawberry and redcurrant flavors and notes of baked fruit cake; bright with good minerality

Revelation Goose Ridge 2023, Goose Gap AVA, Washington. Blush pink, strawberry and watermelon. The eye-catching label demands attention, and the wine does not disappoint with young, not quite ripe strawberries and pink grapefruit. The floral nose beckons.

Shea Wine Cellars2023 Pinot Noir Rosé, Yamhill-Carleton AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon. Tart raspberry, red currant, lively but with some depth. Its round, medium shape and earthy soul make it a good complement to light roasted meats, roasted root vegetables and any form of eggplant.

Why am I Mr. Pink Mary Ryan Family WineColumbia Valley, Washington. Dry, fruity rosé, very approachable, very floral; goes with anything. Drink, don’t think with this one from the Underground Wine Project.

ITALY

Donnafugata Sul Volcano 2021 Etna Ro Rose se DOC (Sicily). A little sharp with a hint of iodine, A little rough and rustic with a higher alcohol content (14.1%).

La Valentina Rose Ceruso d’Abruzzo. Very cherry, as the name suggests (ceruso is Italian for “cherry”. Bright cranberry color, direct fruit flavor with a little menthol and a zesty brush. Creamy, tart, clean and medium bodied; good length for a rose. Have with salmon in balsamic glaze.

FURTHER FIELD

Atlantis “Tinta Negra” Rose, DOP Madeirense (Maderia) An unusual offering from the terraced vineyards of a volcanic island. The grape variety, a cross between Pinot Noir and Grenache, is typically more of a workhorse grown in Madeira and is used to make blends or table wines. But this single-varietal bottling is a bowl of red fruit, but with impressive acidity and a salty note that speaks of the place. Find it and drink it!

Chateau Chizay Rosé Pinot Noir 2022, Ukraine. From a winery founded in 1995 on the site of a former 17th-century winery in Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s westernmost wine-producing region. This medium-bodied dry wine has cherry and strawberry flavors with some earthy tones and finishes with mineral notes. The winery was the first in Ukraine to sign the Port Protocol on Sustainable Development.

Golan Heights WineryHermann Mount Hermann Rose 2022, Galilee. It’s a Syrah-based blend that also includes some Pinot Noir and Tinta Kao. Approachable and smooth with hints of raspberry, strawberry and black pepper spice. It comes from high altitude volcanic soils in a cold climate zone unique to the Golan Heights. Copper-pink, red, crunchy fruits include cranberry and pomegranate. The winery strives to produce “terroir-rich Mediterranean wines at phenomenal prices.”

IKSIR Grand Reserve 2023, Batroun District, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon. I was undecided on this wine after trying it three times, but hey, rosé from Lebanon! Give him a chance! And I was rewarded. The longer it was open, the more I liked it, developing into a zesty herbal note with anise in the lead role. This Rhone grape blend has tropical base notes of fruit, and there’s a creamy aspect that leads into a clean and lively aroma. The name IXSIR comes from “Iksir”, the original Arabic word meaning “Elixir”. IXSIR vineyards reach an altitude of 1800 meters.

Mtsvane Estate Pet-Nat Rose, Georgia. Made from 100% Saperavi. I don’t usually include sparkling wines in the rosé series, but this is a fun, fizzy wine with hints of red berries and earth. And, hey, it’s from Georgia! Unfiltered, so a little cloudy, but without the aftertaste that is often found in such wines. In case you were wondering, the word mtsvane means green.

FRANCE

La Romaine Cave Rose 2023, IGP Mediterranee. The Grenache-Cinsault blend also includes Caladoc, a cross between Grenache and Malbec varieties from the Languedoc. Produced near Mount Ventoux, at the foot of the Dantel Mountains, it is a very light seashell pink, tart and fresh, with a slight zesty and slightly bitter herbal undertone that gives it interest.

Domaine de la Royer Le Olivier Rosé Cabernet Sauvignon Mediterranean IGP. Hailing from the northern edge of Petit-Luberon, this is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that has been aged on its lees for four months to give it a round and supple character not often found in CabSauve at this price – a steal at around €9.00. Certified organic product.

Domaine Isle Saint Pierre 2023, Mediterranean IGP. Situated on a small island on the Rhône River, this fourth-generation winemaker from Arles has produced a fresh and semi-dry wine with tones of tropical fruit, ripe, luxurious guava and melon; tangerine taste. Round, slightly ripe fruit, creamy but still hinting at the maritime terroir. A blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet.

Peyre Rose “Paparazzi” 2022, IGP Mediterranee. This is a fresh and tart rose with deeper red fruits like last year’s strawberries, currants, as well as a hint of pink grapefruit and bright notes of guava and melon. Produced in the region between Gordes and Ile-sur-al-Sorge, in the Vaucluse/Luberon region.