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Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2011 05 13arrowColumn

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v08n10)
The Wine Scene - by Jill A. Ditmire
posted: May 13, 2011

Wine Scene header

Run for the Roses...
Pink wine is divine. Most people think all pink wine is SWEET and cheap. Not true.
So how did pink wine get a scarlet reputation? In the 70's the California wine industry was just beginning to grow as was a red grape called Zinfandel. Zinfandel thrived in the wine country soil and was made into a bold, dry red wine. However, the 70's wine drinking public wanted WHITE wine. So what could a California winemaker do with this fruity, spicy red grape to make it more palatable and profitable?
The Gallo Brothers put it in a jug renamed it "Hearty Burgundy" and made a fortune. At Sutter Home winemaker Bob Trinchero turned a mistake into a milestone. He had a barrel of Zinfandel that experienced stuck fermentation which means the yeast died off before turning all of the sugar in the juice into alcohol. This left Bob with a batch of pink, sweet wine. What could have been a brush with disaster became the blush of success. Pink was closer to white than red and America's natural proclivity to all things sweet made this combination a winner which we all now know as "White Zinfandel".
The French had been making rose style wines for years with great success. But the crafty Americans decided to call it "blush" which to this day can still be a tip off when the label on a bottle of pink wine says "blush" more often than not it will lean to the sweeter style. Wine labeled "rose" usually means the pink wine inside is a bit more dry.
Chilled, dry rose wines are wonderful with food.
Think about this. On a hot summer day when you know your meal would be complemented with a big red wine like a malbec or shiraz, but the thought of drinking a bottle seems so heavy and hot... try a rose style instead. You get all of the "aaah" and none of the "ugh". And most roses look like rubies in the glass which makes the food/wine experience even more delightful.
Real men drink pink wine, and sometimes they even have a second glass!
Check these affordable highly quaffable pinks.
2009 Calderona Rose, Spain-Blend of tempranillo, grenache and verdejo. All three grapes blended TOGETHER not in individual barrels then blended. Elegant, rustic, amazing dry pink wine.
2009 Robertston Natural Sweet Rose, South Africa-refreshing, light, sweet blend of ruby cabernet, chenin blanc, and colombard.
2008 Naire, Spain- Rose of the most widely planted grape in Spain, tempranillo. Earthy aromas and flavors of black cherry. EZ drinking dry pink wine.
2010 Finca La Linda Rose Malbec, Argentina-Fermented and AGED in barrel which is unusual for rose wine. Doing so gives more depth, dryness and layers of dark fruit flavors. Exquisite!
2008 Jardiniere "Rosie the Riveter" Oregon Dry Rose-Made from Pinot Noir grapes; aromas and flavors of wild strawberry, raspberry, with clean mineral finish. Delish!
2010 Charles & Charles Rose Syrah, Washington-Earthy, ripe, rich aromas and flavors of wild black raspberry, cranberry and subtle white pepper. WOW!



Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia wine specialist, AWS certified wine judge, freelance broadcast journalist and 20+ year home owner in the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple. Send your questions and comments to Jill at jill@broadripplegazette.com
Also on INSTAGRAM @jaditmire




jill@broadripplegazette.com
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