By Paola Vecchiolla

While having brunch on Sunday with some friends, we were discussing our dinner invitation for that evening at a friend’s home. “What are they serving for dinner?” I asked. No one knew, except that it would not be the usual fare. Apparently, our friend enjoys dabbling with the exotic when it comes to gastronomic dishes.

I could bring a red Burgundy. Pinot Noir is a grape that goes well with a variety of foods: salmon, light meats, chicken, and lamb. Or maybe I should bring a Sauvignon Blanc, a dry, white wine with crisp acidity that can handle dishes made with tomatoes, peppers, and a variety of pungent cheeses.

However, I had a different idea. When you don’t know what you are going to be eating, why not bring a Rosé? I admit, I had some concerns about what our hostess would think about my choice. Rosés, made in two styles, still or bubbly, have gotten a bum wrap. They get no respect and I am not sure why. I’ve heard comments like Rosés are too bland, simple, sweet, etc. and that is not the case.

Rosé wine is not a blend of red and white wine, as some people may think, but is a carefully produced wine made by removing the skins of the grapes before the liquid changes to a deep red. Rosés can be made from many types of red grapes—Grenache, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are excellent Rosé wines produced in Portugal, France, Spain, and Australia, as well as in the U.S.

I decided to stop in at Bacchus Wine Made Simple on 71st Street and Broadway and ask Gina Renosa her opinion. Renosa, a charming young lady with an incredibly discerning palate, is the wine director at Bacchus. She also loves to educate her customers on matching wine with the right dish.

When I explained to her my situation for that evening she advised me to bring a bubble Rosé. “It’s the perfect wine to go with everything, from avocado salad to lobster, and perfect for the spring,” she said, pulling several bottles from the shelves. We began to taste.

The first Rosé was a 2005 Wild Boar Rosé, from Chateau Routas in Provence. This wine is a vibrant, dry, full-flavored Rosé with finesse. The color is a rich berry with a floral nose and tastes of strawberries, hints of pepper and anise. This wine is versatile and matched perfectly with grilled white meats, seafood, cheese plates, and salads. You can drink this wine alone or with a fine meal.

The second wine we tried was a 2005 La Porte du Caillou, a Sancerre Rosé. This wine is 100 percent Pinot Noir. It is dry, with floral scents on the nose. It also has a nice, long finish. The pale pink color of the wine glistened in the glass.

The color of a Rosé is important to note. The colors should range from a light pink, to slightly orange. If the color is too pronounced this could indicate that the wine is poorly made or has been in the bottle too long.

From France, we moved to taste a Rosé from Spain called Inurrieta. A 2004 made from 100 percent Garnacha, the Spanish word for Grenache. It was fresh with a slightly herbal strawberry taste, not too dry and very thirst quenching.

We finished our tasting with a glass of 2004 Musar cuvee Rosé from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Believe it or not, lots of interesting wines are coming out of this region. It is known that winemaking has been a tradition here since the Phoenicians and Romans. This Rosé is made from the Cinsault and Obeideh grapes. The wine is dry with an acute freshness of fruit exploding in your mouth.

I decided to buy the bubbly from Chateau Musar. I liked the fact that the wine was produced in Lebanon and thought my hostess would appreciate this fact, too.

As it turned out, dinner was an assortment of grilled meats and couscous with a beautiful salad. The Rosé was a hit!!

All of these Rosés are affordable for the average consumer, ranging in price from $8.00 to $23.00.
Under Renosa’s direction, Bacchus Wine Made Simple offers many tasting events every Tuesday and Thursday, and membership in its wine club. The store offers three tiers of membership, $30, $50, or $100 and each level provides members with two bottles of wine per month along with tasting notes and recommended meals. In addition, Renosa will personally officiate at private tastings, a great idea for a house warming party, and corporate events.