Wine Myth #4: Rose and why it’s manly
First off let’s bin the myth – rosé is NOT a mixture of red and white wine. Admittedly there’s nothing to stop you blending it yourself at home, but in wine-making, it’s an exception to the rule. It’s generally made only using red grapes. Sneered at by snobs and philistines alike, rosé is not just for ladies of leisure and students. It is actually a very manly drink and I’m going to prove that to you now.
There are a few ways in which you can produce a rosé wine. And yes, blending the juice from red and white grapes is one of them. But this is very uncommon these days and only a handful of rosé Champagne producers still do it. In these rare cases a small amount of still red wine will be added to the sparkling white wine to give it colour, and ensure consistency year on year. But the best rosé Champagnes, along with the best rosé still wines, are made with red grapes only, with limited skin contact to give the wine a pink tinge.
Just as I find myself defending the maligned Merlot grape, rosé wine regularly needs a helping hand too. I often hear it being dismissed as cheap, girly, unsophisticated and bland. Yet the market is awash with delicious and affordable Spanish rosados, French, Portuguese and New World rosé, that are anything but what was described above. And they’re not all cheap – rosé from Tavel, Lirac and Bandol regions in France can fetch big prices, are full-bodied and powerful, and can mature with age. Rosé is extremely versatile with food and suits most social situations. Whether you’re on holidays or not, relaxing in hot weather with a glass of rosé is one of the best feelings. Feel free to even drop an ice cube in – it’s perfectly fine “wine etiquette” too.
So you think you’re a real man but you’re not convinced? Here’s ten bloody good reasons why a man should drink rosé:
1. It is one of the more drinkable options in Leggs, and you’ll definitely pick up a woman (rosé’s claim on the 2nd part of this statement is debatable).
2. Ernest Hemingway, the man’s man of them all, was a big rosado drinker. Granted he was a big drinker anyway, but rosado was his preferred choice.
3. It’s a romantic drink – see how it goes down with your next planned picnic or well-timed sunset.
4. It stands up to spicy food much more than most men I know.
5. It’s also perfect with burgers, grilled meats and all BBQ food. And pizzas. Even the Eight Meats with Jim Beam BBQ Sauce type pizza.
6. Because I’m telling you.
7. You probably wear pink, so why not drink pink?
8. Legendary sportsmen such as David Ginola and Thomas Castaignède have become rosé winemakers in their retirement.
9. It’s fine to drink ciders like Strawberry and Lime Kopparberg, and Wild Berry Rekorderlig, but not rosé?? Please.
10. Just because you like delicate aromas of peach flower, orange blossom and freesia doesn’t make you a girl!
Now that you’ve been converted, here are three contrasting styles to try!
Muddy Water Rosé 2008 – Red Nose Wine – €15.50 – Dark in colour (for a rosé), displaying classic elegant aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cherry. A touch of smoke suggesting oak barrels. Similar red fruits on the palate which had decent body, although a more soured cherry note came through. Was a match for an incredibly spicy dish from Kanum Thai. A definite man’s rosé! 8.5/10
Castillo de Tafalla Navarra 2009 Garnacha – Naked Wines £6.99 – Vibrant pink in colour with a youthful nose of brambly strawberries, reduced-fat organic fresh single cream and a whiff of mixed herbs. Strawberry explosion in the mouth and medium length. Next-day delivery to Clapham was an extra sweetener. Worked well with this delicious pork ginger dish. A less manly rosé! 7.5/10
Chateau La Grave Rosé Minervois 2008 ‘Expression’ - On the Grapevine – €10 – Pale salmon in colour, fully developed nose with light aromas of redcurrant and herb. Restrained and elegant on the plate with more red fruit like candied strawberry, raspberry and vanilla. Worked really well with England 0 Algeria 0. A man-trying-to-impress-his-girlfriend rosé! 8/10
