10 Ways to Enjoy Rosé This Summer
Your Complete Guide to Drinking Pink
It’s officially Rosé Season.
It’s that time of year, where the cheery “pink drink” is everywhere. From romantic candlelit dinners to quiet porch hangs, backyard parties and lazy beach days, a glass of crisp, easy-drinking rosé is always the perfect pairing.
Rosé is one of the most unpretentious and versatile wines, after all.
(Even though it’s also one of the oldest.)
In other words, it’s hard not to love.
As Josh Ostrovsky says, “Rosé is like puppies, if you hate it you are an absolute monster.”
That's why we firmly believe that rosé should be enjoyed year-round. Confining rosé to spring and summer months is as silly as only drinking champagne for birthdays and weddings.
But of course a glass of chilled rosé with notes of strawberry, rose petal, and rhubarb…
Mixed with good company, food, and sunshine is undeniable magic.
That’s why today we're sharing our top 10 favorite ways to enjoy rosé during the hot summer months.
Here’s everything you need to know before taking your next sip:
Jenny & Liset, Dry Farm Wines Family
All The Ways to Rosé This Summer
A Parisian Picnic
We’ve missed travel. That’s why we love pretending we’re in Paris for a day. Go on a picnic at a park or in your own backyard. Lay out a blanket and soak up the sun while sipping on a small batch French rosé and nibbling on radishes with butter, a quintessential French snack. It’s incredibly simple, yet it always hits the spot. You just need radishes, butter and salt. You’ll find our favorite keto-friendly recipe for radishes and butter below. (via EatWell101.)
A Happy Hour Herbal Spritzer
Sure, rosé is excellent on its own. But it’s also fun to experiment. We love to add a little sparkling mineral water, a few sprigs of rosemary or basil, and a touch of local honey to our rosé for a lighthearted herbal happy hour spritzer. It’s fragrant, light, and refreshing on a hot summer day. And you don’t have to be a mixologist to get this spritzer right, either. You can get the full recipe here. (via Well + Yum)
A Tasty Brunch
If you’re hosting a few friends or just trying to spice up breakfast, we highly recommend taking a page from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort: More Than 100 Cozy Recipes Free of Gluten and Refined Sugar. We love the Shakshuka coupled with a glass of sparkling rosé. Get the full recipe here. (via True Comfort.)
Throw a Rosé Party
Wine always tastes better in good company. Gather a few friends, 3-6 different bottles of rosé, some local meat and cheese or a charcuterie board, and you’re set. Encourage your friends to try new rosés, have them see, swirl, smell, and sip each one. We love looking at the varying shades or rosé too. Relish the beauty, conversation and each sip.
Savor with a Good Book
There’s something about the pace of summer. It’s like all of a sudden it’s okay to slow down and let things linger a little longer. That’s why we love curling up with a good book and a cold crisp glass of rosé on the porch on a balmy July afternoon. Lately we’ve been reading Intuitive Fasting by Dr. Will Cole. We think it pairs perfect with our keto-approved rosés.
Chilled Rosé All Day at The Beach or Pool
Grab a beach towel, some sunscreen, and a cooler full of chilled rosé. This extra cold rosé treat takes the heat out of even the hottest days. As always, remember to drink responsibility. Don’t drink and dive.
Dark Rosé & BBQ
Pour a glass of Claus Preisinger, Rózsa Libre and get fire up the grill. Rózsa Libre is one of our favorite dark, bolder rosés and it pairs perfectly with BBQ foods. It’s an easy way to wow your guests too.
As an Aperitif
Aperitifs are drinks typically served before dinner to stimulate your appetite. And studies suggest that they can aid with digestion, too. Whether you’re trying to impress guests or just want something to sip on while you’re cooking, try adding sparkling water or Aperol (or both!) to a glass of rosé.
Rosé Chicken Piccata with Pink Peppercorns
Rosé can go far beyond the glass. The beauty of rosé is its versatility. It doesn’t just pair well with a variety of foods; it’s also easy to incorporate in your cooking. This Rosé Chicken Picatta is a playful take on the classic dish. You can find this fruity, light chicken recipe here. (via Food52)
For an Italian Dinner in The Garden
Turn on the twinkle lights, light the candles… Rosé and romance are in the air. Whether you’re inviting friends over for a dinner party or putting together a romantic evening for someone special, you can make it elegant and memorable without breaking the bank or spending hours preparing. We love setting up a table in the garden with a simple tablecloth, white dinner plates, and neutral napkins. You can dress the table with miniature glass vases, sprigs of rosemary, and cheery aromatic lemons. Lemons are everywhere in Capri. Serve an arugula salad, truffle cheese, and a lovely gluten-free pasta. Top it all of with a glass or three of Italian rosé, otherwise known as rosato. We love the grapes Corvina, Gaglioppo, and Gropello.
A Note From The Pros
As you can see, stocking up on a good supply over the spring and summer months is a necessity. And if you’re looking to enjoy a much better overall experience there are a few things to watch out for. We’ve all suffered the consequences of the corner store rosé…
How to Choose the Right Rosé
Choosing the right rosé isn’t about being a wine snob. It’s about being mindful of what you put in your body.
You see…
We all remember when rosé became the “it” wine. It was so popular that in 2014 the Hamptons sold out of rosé. In fact, many wineries thought it was just a fad. They didn’t think rosé would continue to dominate social media feeds and wine fridges. So they began pumping out cheap blush wines in mass quantities like pink bath water, hoping that you, the consumer, would chill it down and not notice the difference in quality. But we’ve all felt the difference the next day.
Sometimes you can even smell it.
Kermit Lynch, an American wine importer, believes some rosés don’t even smell like wine. They smell “technical”, full of sulfur and industrial yeasts.
That’s why choosing quality is essential. When possible, we always recommend looking for rosés made in small batches from organic family farms that have no sugar, no additives, and minimal intervention. This is the best way to ensure that you’re actually drinking wine and not some chemical concoction. And of course it helps with the overall experience too.
Bottles to Try
Rosato 'Habibi' Niccolò Lari 2019
From: Tuscany (Italy)
Varietal: Sangiovese
Tasting Notes: Delicate and fragrant aromas of pomegranate, pink grapefruit, rose and soft mineral sensations. The taste is agile, vibrant and tense, with a very direct and smooth drink.
Hoch Family Rosé Biene
From: Hollenburg (Austria)
Varietal: Zweigelt
Tasting Notes: This rosé presents beautiful complexity: hints of vanilla, pink fruits, and some herbs make it a gastronomic wine.
Once you’ve found the perfect bottle, the ways to enjoy it are endless.
Cheers. Santé. Salute. 乾杯. Prost.
Jenny & Corey, Dry Farm Wines Family