Whether you are an amateur or a real expert in oenology, choosing the right rosé wine to accompany a dish or a particular event is always difficult. Faced with the hundreds of bottles of rosé wine available from different retailers or producers, it is not easy to find your way around. To help you, here are 7 tips for buying a good rosé.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO YOUR AGE
If you don't know much about wine, and you want to find a rosé that will please everyone, without spending too much money, we can only advise you to turn to a young rosé. This may seem astonishing, when you know that for a red wine, it is rather the wines of guard that presage beautiful bottles.
However, rosé wines work differently, and nowadays most of them should be drunk young. The reason is simple: a rosé is drunk light, floral and fruity, all qualities that are obtained from the moment the wine is made, and which fade over time, to give way to greater depth and character. It is therefore advisable to choose a rosé to be drunk within the year.
Some rosé wines can also be kept, and can be at their best between 5 and 8 years, but these remain rare, and less accessible.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO ITS ALCOHOL CONTENT
Unless you are an experienced oenologist, it is difficult to estimate the alcohol content of a rosé wine just by looking at its colour and robe through the bottle.
So the only way to find out the alcohol content of a rosé is simply to look at the label. This label must mention the degree of alcohol, and will then allow you to choose a rosé with varying degrees of alcohol. It is therefore recommended not to exceed 12% alcohol for an aperitif, and to accompany a meal, a 14% rosé will do perfectly.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO ITS PRICE
As a general rule, the more expensive a wine is, the better it is. This is true for white wine and especially for red wine, but not necessarily for rosé. Indeed, the price will not determine the quality of rosé wine that you choose, allowing you to enjoy a good bottle without spending a fortune.
There is indeed a wide choice of very good rosé wines under €5 per bottle, enough to enjoy in moderation!
BUY ROSÉ ACCORDING TO TASTE (SWEET, DRY OR FRUITY)
There are many preconceived ideas about rosé wine. One of these is that the darker the rosé wine, the sweeter it is. Thus, people who do not like sweet wines turn to a light rosé wine. The idea is that it will be drier and lighter. However, a dark rosé is not necessarily sweeter than a light rosé.
The best way to tell if a rosé is sweet or not is to look at the label. A wine is considered dry when its sugar level is less than 4 grams per litre.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO ITS APPELLATION
To be sure not to make a mistake when choosing a rosé, you can easily rely on the AOP/AOC (Appellation d'Origine Protégée/Contrôlée) and the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication). These labels are a guarantee of quality and are awarded to wines produced in accordance with very strict specifications. They therefore guarantee you a quality rosé.
Even if we recognize thatIGP is less prestigious than the appellation AOP, you can nevertheless turn to these wines with your eyes closed.
Again, you will find this information directly on the label.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO ITS GRAPE VARIETY
The rosé wine making is a demanding technique, but the final result will depend essentially on the grape variety. Although rosé wine is produced almost everywhere in France, it must be said that the largest producer of rosé wine in France is Provence. And this is not by chance.
Rosé wine, in order to offer the fruity aromas that we love so much, needs sunshine. The grapes and vines must benefit from a beautiful sunshine, which Provence is perfectly suited to provide.
So if you are looking for a powerful rosé wine sweet and strong, you can choose a Provence rosé wines. If you prefer sweet rosé wines, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon should be your first choice, as well as other varieties such as Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache. On the other hand, if you prefer sweet rosé wines, Merlot or Cabernet should appeal to you. Of course, there is nothing to stop you from finding sweet rosé wines in Provence.
BUYING ROSÉ ACCORDING TO ITS COLOUR
As we have seen above, a light wine does not necessarily mean that it is drier and lighter than a darker wine. If the colour of the rosé wine does not really give an indication of the alcohol content, but it can help you determine the taste and aroma of the wine.
Thus, a grey rosé wine or light pink can ensure that you drink a rosé with little tannin, with notes of exotic fruit and citrus. A dark rosé wine will ensure that you drink a more powerful, full-bodied glass of wine with red fruit, strawberry and blackcurrant aromas.
To fully assess the colour of a rosé. If you want to drink rosé wines, do not hesitate to place the bottle in front of the light. It is also advisable to avoid dull rosé wines, which do not have a bright, vivid colour.
You always had some difficulty in choosing a good rosé wine ? By following these 7 tips to buy rosé wine. Now you won't have to worry about making mistakes. Go to the Berne estate to apply these recommendations and find a good Provence rosé wines.