Monday, August 23, 2021

Dan Berger: Tips on Dry Rose

 When the days begin to turn consistently hot, an iced tea, beer, iced coffee or simply a glass of ice water are among the most obvious ways to cool off.

    But when friends arrive and conviviality is appropriate, only a handful of beverages seem to be the best alternatives, especially if you've put out some cheese and crackers, chips and dips, and put the umbrellas in the proper locations.

    I'm a huge fan of Champagne, of course, because it can be chilled down and not lose very much character. And those who know me also know of my absolute dedication to dry riesling, especially when they are really crisp and refreshing.

    But the one wine that seems to be the most popular over the last few years among wine lovers for the hottest days of the year is bone dry rose. And one reason is that when there is no sugar, the aftertaste actually produces salivation, which helps to make all sorts of finger foods that much tastier.

    There truly is no formal strategy for identifying the best rose wines, so I have decided to offer a few tips that make some sense since so many roses that have the word "dry" on the label really are not completely dry, and they are so sweet that they make the word seem like a lie.

     -- Seek wines of lower alcohols

    When the alcohol level in a rose shows it to be 14%, chances are the wine will be soft and may actually seem as if it has some sugar. Alcohol has a sweet aftertaste, and to me, 14% alcohol rose isn't dry. In fact, even 13% alcohol can also be slightly rich and therefore a little less crisp than works as refreshment.

     -- Seek roses made from pinot noir or grenache.

    Many other grapes can make dry roses, such as sangiovese, merlot, and even zinfandel, but the two most reliable are pinot noir and grenache. The grape cinsault can also contribute beautifully to a grenache blend.

     -- Try to determine if the wine was made by a method called direct-to-press, or if it was made by the French term "saignee."

    Grapes harvested specifically to make rose wines are sent immediately to be pressed, making for a more delicate wine with loads of flavor, but also likely with excellent structure.    

    I'm not a big fan of roses made by "saignee" (san-yay) because in some cases the alcohol levels rise more than they ought to for the wine to be really dry.

    Probably the best way to find out about the method used is to ask the wine shop owner or clerk. Some supermarket personnel may also know which technique was used.

     -- Choose roses from the 2020 harvest. Pink wines from prior vintages can be fine to drink, but the older a rose is, the less it has the fruit it had when it was younger. 

     -- There is no need to spend a lot of money to buy quality dry roes. Almost every store that carries dry rose will have several that sell for around $10, and for that you'll likely end up with something interesting.

     -- Your best bet likely will be from the south of France, such as Provence.

    Dry pink wines have become so popular over the last decade that dozens of producers from the south of France are making them. The French are extremely skilled at making this kind of wine, and they are so good with food that they end up on dinner tables around the world.

    Wine of the Week: 2020 Perrin La Vieille Ferme Rose, Ventoux ($8): This wine is seen under several different labels, most of them using this designation. The fruit component is like maraschino cherry with hints of tropical fruit, and the wine is dry but not austere. It also has been seen discounted from this moderate price and is a great alternative to more expensive pink wines.


     To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good tips there, for sure.

Anonymous said...

Zzzzz.

Anonymous said...

I lived in Europe for several years, and each summer we drove down to Provence, straying here and there to visit places on our way to our "destination", which was Cassis, a town on the Mediterranean Coast not very far East of Marseilles. I always enjoyed the rose wines of that region, and they were especially good for some reason in warm weather. Honestly, I don't think you can find better rose wines. They vary in color, from almost a rust to a vivid pink, and by color they were perfect in the glass against the colors of the sky and countryside. They varied from dry to rather fruity. All of that depended on the vintner. But for me, summer in those years meant a rather rusty-colored wine (I did have a favorite one) enjoyed in warm weather under a very blue sky and above deep blue sea.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this. Currently exploring rose'.
Wouldn't take the KF as a wine drinker.


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Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


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In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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