Rose wines have become favorites for Valentine's Day dinner pairings. [Photo provided to China Daily] |
The delicate color of rose wines have made them favorites for Valentine's Day dinner pairings.
The pink hue can range from a pale "onion-skin" orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grape varietals used and the wine-making techniques. There are several ways to produce rose wine, including skin contact and blending. Wineries that focus on rose production use the skin-contact method: Black-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, up to three days. Rose wines are made from a wide variety of grapes and can be found all around the globe. They may be still, semi-sparkling or sparkling.
China Daily asked wine consultant Vance Yeang of Global Fine Wines in Shanghai to recommend moderately priced options in different styles-sweet, aromatic dry and dry-for romantic sipping.
"I've recommended three different rose wines from less-known regions, but these wineries produce good quality wines," he says.
Sweet:
Brown Brothers Moscato Rosa (145 yuan or $21)
Established in 1889, Brown Brothers is a highly successful and innovative family-owned winery from Victoria, Australia.
Rose-petal and red-berry aromas along with freshly crushed grapes and a spicy perfume dominate the nose. These characters follow through to the palate along with a fruitiness that is balanced by acidity and spritz.
Aromatic Dry:
Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rose (180 yuan)
Kanonkop Estate has been producing some of South Africa's most premium wines. It has accumulated international awards for over more than a decade.
Delicate aromas of cherry and strawberry lead the nose and carry through onto the palate with a bit more intensity. Flavors of red cherry and plum skin stay through the finish.
Dry:
Masi Rosa dei Masi (201 yuan)
Masi produces modern, pleasant, well-balanced and recognizable Italian wines that have earned recognition for having "revolutionized the art of wine-making in the Veneto".
A beautiful, clear, light-coral rose with spiced raspberry aromas. The palate gives a herbal hint of raspberries, refreshing and not too sweet. It's crisp and mouth-filling with a herbal red-berry finish.