Despite being called ‘white’, these varieties are actually blush.
White Zinfandel wine has a bright taste, with melon adding a honey sweetness to the fruit forward flavoring.
Enjoy with spicy Indian curries, or hot Thai noodles.
White Merlot has a strong berry flavor, with raspberry adding a hint of sharpness to the otherwise sweet drink.
Although not the most common pairing, a White Merlot can actually complement many dishes.
Again, spicy foods are a natural friend, but creamy pastas are balanced by a fruity White Merlot.
Often included in this category is Pink Moscato, a rosé that isn’t actually a rosé.
Pink Moscato is made by adding a touch of red wine (typically Merlot), to a White Moscato.
Pink Moscato is a dessert wine, and one of the sweetest wines available.
Often enjoyed at the end of a meal, Pink Moscato can also be paired with grilled seafood.
Semi-Sweet Rosé Wines
Semi-sweet rosé wines are difficult to pin down as any single variety. Coming from different grapes and regions, these wines can take you by surprise.
Although finding a good semi-sweet rosé often requires careful consideration of the bottle, sparkling rosé wines tend to fall in this middle ground.
These wines will be light and refreshing, and include floral notes that are missing from the sweetest rosés.
A sparkling rosé is best enjoyed when you have something to toast, and the flavor profile pairs with salty buffet foods.
Other rosé wines with a tendency towards semi-sweet are Sangiovese and Montepulciano.
Even White Zinfandel can be semi-sweet. Semi-sweet wines move away from fruit flavors, and towards spices and floral touches.
Dry Rosé Wines
Despite the reputation as a sweet drink, most rosé wines actually fall into the ‘dry’ category.
Dry rosé wines make exceptional dinner companions for spicy foods, and are also a stand-out pairing for Mediterranean dishes.
Grenache rosé is a popular choice, with a flavor profile that boasts floral notes and a surprisingly savory herb aroma (You might also want to check out: What Is Vermouth?).
This is a bright wine that starts rich and finishes with a tang of citrus. A dry Grenache rosé pairs wonderfully with tomato heavy Greek dishes.
As the grape comes from Provence, Grenache rosé is sometimes called Provence rosé.
Syrah grapes are used to create a rosé wine that has a bolder body than many.
One of the driest rosé wines, a Syrah rosé has exceptional color and a high tannin content, creating a flavor profile of stone fruits and red peppers.
It can hold up to a lot of food pairings, but goes best with chili and paella. Serve chilled, and enjoy alongside a spicy stew.
Hi, I’m Rachel Edwards and I enjoy a glass of wine as much as the rest of them. Well, maybe slightly more.
My parents own a vineyard in Napa Valley and were constantly making new wines for the locals to try. Their brand was one of the most popular across the US at one point. My sister and I loved running up and down the vines, picking the grapes for our parents, and even helping with the ideas.
Since moving out of the family home, my love for wine has not waivered - in fact, I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur. I’m always the one to bring the wine to our girly gatherings, family meals, and picnics - let me know what we’re doing, and I’ll supply the goods.
