I adore Rosé wine!  Here’s why.   Rosés are such a versatile wines at the table, they give me a break from thinking about, or in some cases over-thinking food and wine pairings.  Consequently whether one is a professional, such as a sommelier or chef; wine enthusiast, or a novice, when it comes to food and wine pairing,  rosés are always in the conversation of the most food friendly wines!  

I keep versatile wines at the ready because they work with a wide range of foods. If you’re not sure which wine to enjoy with your meal, and you’re looking to avoid the brain damage wine and food pairing may cause, then get to know food friendly wines

So when I say the theme for this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend is “Rosé and…”, I was thrilled because at the time the theme was announced, we were enduring a record-breaking heat wave here in the San Francisco Bay, and I’d just had back to back easy summer meals  that I’d paired with Rosés – one still and one sparkling.  Perfect timing!     

About Wine Pairing Weekend

For the uninitiated, the Wine Pairing Weekend (#WinePW) is a group of bloggers who virtually gather once a month to create food and wine pairings around a theme. David Crowley of Cooking Chat started the group in June 2014 and #WinePW has been going strong ever since!

What Makes Rosés So Food Friendly?

In a nutshell,  rosés are so food friendly because of their refreshing acidity, lower alcohol, low tannin red fruit character.  While still  rosés are the most popular style of rosé, sparkling rose is even more versatile and food friendly in my book because of its effervescence and typically higher acidity.  And when it come to pairing food and wine, acidity is your best friend.

You’ll find a wonderful diversity of styles of rosé.  The diversity comes from both the types of grape varieties used, and method of production (primarily direct press or saignee) which can affect both the color and the body of the finished wine.  In terms of the grape varieties, rosé can be made from virtually any red grape variety, so the possibilities are endless and there is an incredible amount of diversity –  a rosé may be a single varietal (100% of one type of grape variety) wine or a blend of grape varieties.  In terms of a rosé’s color and body, they can range from the pale light-bodied Provençal style rosé to darker and more full-bodied rosés.

Phew!  Don’t think about it too much.  Try a bunch of them.  The more you try, the more you’ll figure out what you like and what you don’t.

And you’ve got all year to discover what you like because such a food friendly wine shouldn’t be limited to summer (we always have a rosé at our Thanksgiving table)!

Pro Tip: Pair light bodied fare such as a salad with a lighter colored rosé, and more substantial fare such as BBQ chicken or burgers with a darker colored rosé.

Here are the two easy peasy meal paired with two outstanding rosés!

Summer Meal #1 – Grilled Salmon with Sautéed Eggplant and Black Beans

My wife put this quick dinner together by simply grilling the salmon in our grill pan, sautéing some cut-up fresh eggplant from our garden, and heating up a can of lightly seasoned black beans!  A quick and delicious meal, but the diversity of flavors and textures could be challenging.  With that in mind, I selected a sparkling  rosé from one of my favorite California sparkling wine producers Iron Horse Vineyards.  Their estate sparkling wines produced in the Green Valley AVA of the Russian River Valley have a minerality that very much reminds me of Champagne.

Plus, when the hotter it gets the more I crave bubbles!

In My Glass – 2013 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé

Loving this 2013 Vintage @ironhorsevyds Spring Rosé Gorgeous Coppery salmon color with sourdough toast brioche red fruit and dried apricot aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, fresh,very dry with a delicate creamy mousse and concentrated with ample strawberry, raspberry, baked peach and dried apricot flavors. Blend of 75% Pinot Noir; 25% Chardonnay Three yrs en tirage 13.5% abv #rosé #drinkpink #roseallday #rosealldamnday #sparklingwine #wine #winelover #GreenValley #sonoma #sonomachat #pinksociety

A post shared by martindredmond (@martindredmond) on Jul 21, 2017 at 8:14pm PDT

Summer Meal #2 – Assorted Charcuterie, Caprese Salad W/Heirloom Tomatoes and Truffled Marcona Almonds

Do  you know what I love most about Caprese Salad? Sopping up the fresh tomato juices with a piece of crusty baguette after I gobble down the tomatoes and fresh mozzarella!

In My Glass – 2016 RARECAT Wines Jennifer Rosé

Loving this @rarecatwines ’16 Jennifer Rosé. Brilliant pale salmon copper color with aromatic red fruit, peach skin, blood orange zest, sweet spice and wet stone aromas. On the palate it’s medium bodied and mouth watering acidity and delicious strawberry, raspberry, watermelon,slightly underripe peach, blood orange, and sweet spice flavors. It’s persistent with a very satisfying sweet finish accented with spice. A blend of Grenache with kiss of Viognier. 13.5 abv. Paired well with a no-cook dinner of Caprese Salad, assorted Charcuterie, and Truffles Marcona Almond! #wine #winelover #roseallday #rosealldamnday #drinkpink #drinkpinksociety #grenache #viognier #pinksociety

A post shared by martindredmond (@martindredmond) on Jul 22, 2017 at 8:11pm PDT

Both wines were outstanding pairings with our meals, and reinforced that rosés (along with sparkling wines) are my favorite food friendly wines.  And in my book and sparkling wines are

Check out what my fellow Wine Pairing Weekend peeps have brought to our virtual table for Rosé and…

• Lauren of The Swirling Dervish declares it is Dinner Time and Wine: Three Pairings for Sparkling Rosé.
• Jill of L’Occasion will be showing us how to use Rosé and Sea Salt.
• Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla will be posting about Kobza Rosé with a Summery Grilled Haloumi Salad.
• Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm shares her story, I heard an Angel Whispering in my ear.
• Gwendolyn of WinePredator proclaims Hooray for Central Coast Rose for #WinePW.
• David of Cooking Chat is pairing Mediterranean Grilled Chicken with a Bandol Rosé.
• Ellen of Family Around the Table will make us all drool with her Brown Sugar Pecan Maple Baked Brie.
• Lori of Dracaena Wines will be pairing Rosé Thai Grilled Pizza.
• Cindy of Grape Experiences is knows the KISS rule and will Pair Rosé with…(Keep it Simple)
• Nancy from Pull That Cork will be Grazing, Rosé in Hand.
• Jane of Always Ravenous will be discussing A Season of Rosé Paired with Mediterranean Flavors.

If you’re up early enough, please join our twitter chat at 8a Pacific as we chat about “Rosé and…” Follow the #WinePW hashtag and join the conversation!

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