As someone who tends to favor the darker side of the flavor profile I rarely have a craving for anything besides whiskey & red wine. But when I do it's typically tequila, gin, or Rose. There's just something about summer nights that call for a crisp, fruity glass of pink sunshine.
Rose is a fairly versatile wine & while some wine snobs look down upon it, considering it to be closer to bath water than nectar of the gods, I firmly believe it has it's place in a refined palate. We'll dissect those flavors and what you can eat to really pull them out here.
Key Flavor Notes - (depending on the rose you buy) dry but always with some sweetness, mild fruit, light acid, citrus
Foods - obviously this depends on the exact type of rose you grab BUT I would argue that all types are in the same flavor profile so if you venture off of the typical pairing script you may find a really fun combo. I'm not going to get nitty gritty here with full bodied/dry/sweet; all rose's will compliment the same basic flavors and your personal preference will truly be the deciding factor. Again I'm not trying to tell you exactly what to eat/drink here and give you more rules, just guidelines to better understand what you might enjoy.
Fruity - strawberries are the obvious choice but melon with some citrus squeezed over it (lime & cantalope would be bomb) or some fresh cut apples sprinkled with mint or cilantro would also pair beautifully with a dry or sweet rose.
Seafood - Anything goes here although I will say a drier rose would probably fit your dinner vibe better than a sweet one. I love keeping it really simple with a favorite sushi roll, a nice piece of tuna with some citrus, or lobster with a little butter on freshly toasted bread. It really allows the pairing to shine instead of compete with the dish.
Spicy - This is one of my favorite applications for rose; red wines often feel heavy with spicy foods and white wines get lost on the tongue with all that heat. Rose offers the perfect balance and can keep up with flames. Curries, Jamaican marinated chicken or plantain chips, and anything drizzled with sriracha are a good bet.
Did you know that a fail proof pairing for every beverage imaginable is any food where salt is the dominant flavor? Pretzels, Potato chips, certain tortilla chips, nuts. Salt opens the palate and will help you taste all the different flavors of your drink.
Cheers & Rose the night away x
This article was written while listening to Colbie Caillat, the Rose of singers
wouldn't you agree?
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