Corkscrew Chronicles: Rose all day!

The summer heat we all longed for has finally arrived. What wines to drink in the heat? Definitely consider rose! Rose has recently exploded in availability and consumer acceptance. There are some exciting, dry and flavorful roses that complement a wide variety of foods. Check with your favorite retailer to see what is available. There are several ways to make these wines. The grapes can be crushed and pressed directly to fermentation vats to prevent excess color pickup (color is in the grape skins, not the grape flesh). Another method is to quickly steep (macerate) on the red grape skins to dissolve some color and flavor. Producers can blend varietals and use a combination of direct pressing and maceration. Much of the quality pink-tinged juice comes from red wine production, where a portion of the juice is removed to increase skin-to-juice ratio, giving more flavor and color in the red wines. Look for vintage 2019, the current release. While there are roses that will age, most are best in their first two years. Pale pink or salmon hues indicate youth and freshness. Roses offer widely divergent flavors but you should expect citrus, crisp nuances, delicate fruit notes, hints of spice and berry overtones. Their individual uniqueness offers a great opportunity for a comparison tasting party. Here are some recent favorites: Revelry Rose, Washington State $18 — A blend of Cabernet Franc and Grenache with expressive berry notes, vibrant flavors and a good dollop of ripeness. Eminently gulpable. Coeur Clementine Cotes de Provence Rose, France $20 — Blended from six varietals it offers elegant, delicate flavors of berry, mineral and earth. M de Minuty Cotes de Provence Rose, France $20 — A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah with orange and berry high notes. It shows softly-dry, lingering flavors and textures with mouthwatering acidity. Stylish and well-made. Whispering Angel Cotes de Provence Rose, France $24 — A balanced, full-flavored, bone-dry rose with a smooth finish. They helped fuel the rose revival. By.Ott Cotes de Provence Rose $28 — Pink hue with orange undertones. Notes of white peach, apricot, tropical fruit and spice. Quite lovely. Le Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Bandol, France $27 — Unique in that is it produced using a high percentage of Mourvedre blended with Grenache and Cinsault. It offers a hint of spice and fresh fruit with complexity and character from vines that average 28 years of age. Chevraney Domaine du Salvard Rose, Loire $17 — blended from 65 percent Pinot Noir and 35 percent Gamay from 20-year-old vines, this wine shows refreshing, complex, crisp berry and lime flavors with a long finish. Le Grand Bouqueteau Chinon Rose, Loire $17 — a Rose from 100 percent Cabernet Franc offering rich berry aromas and flavors. It shows elegance and style finishing gently with a crisp, mouthwatering finish. Casanova La Spinetta Rose, Tuscany $20 — From the heart of Italy comes this fresh and vibrant rose made from Chianti's Sangiovese and Prugnolo Gentile. Crisp and flavorful with overtones of citrus and mineral. Txomin Etxaniz Txakolina Rose, Spain $27 — Worth a search of the market this spritzy, flavorful, delicate, mouthwatering and lingering wine from the north of Spain is truly a delight. Don't worry about pronouncing it, just enjoy! Protocolo Rose, Spain $11 — A blend of equal parts Tempranillo and Bobal this is dry and zesty with strawberry/cherry/mineral flavors. Perfect for a picnic or to combine with some sparkling water over ice to beat the summer heat. Cabriz Dao Rose, Portugal $11 — A blend of Porto's Touriga Nacional and the Alfrocheiro Preto, both native, indigenous grapes. Medium-bodied with hints of berries and currants. Don't forget to look for sparkling roses and Champagnes! Gary Twining is a certified wine educator who worked 34 years in the wholesale fine wine industry. Email him at winingwithtwining@hotmail.com.