What's Open Owen? - April '21 Edition

Spring has sprung, and with it comes a refreshed sense of optimism. It warms my heart to see a sense of normalcy with people dining out again on patios and rooftops here in Chicago. So this begs the question - do wines have seasons? In Chicago, I would say absolutely. In other places, I would say no. In Miami, for example, and other warm-weather places there is not the same sense of seasonality. Typically, in cities like Chicago with drastically different seasons, red wines do best in the wintertime while Rosé and white wines take the spring and summer by storm.

This brings me to the quandary of Rosé. When is it time to drink this wonderfully fragrant pink wine? Rosé is a lot like country music for me personally. It needs to be warm outside, and I need to be in right the mood for it. It is a beverage of choice for beaches, barbecues, and summer fun for many, especially in the younger generations. However, it is important to point out that not all Rosés are created equally. There is a huge breath of style, taste, and countries that produce it.

The production of Rosé can include many different red grape varietals from Grenache to Pinot Noir. So how does the wine get pink? We must look first at how red wine is made. Red wine gets its flavor, tannin and color during production as the skins and stems of the grapes sit on top of the grape juice. During fermentation, these characteristics seep into the wine giving it depth and flavor. For Rosé, red grape varietals are used, but the skins are taken off halfway through its journey to a red wine, leaving it a lovely pink color.

Some Rosé has plenty of residual sugar giving it a sweet quality. However, the most famous rosé is a dry style, specifically stemming from Aix-en-provence in southern France.

Today, we are tasting a niche Rosé from South America.

Here's What's Currently Open:

2018 Bodega Garzon Uruguay Reserve Pinot Noir Rose

This wine blew my mind! I had no idea that rose could come from a country like Uruguay, as most South American countries are famous for their big, bold reds.

With delicate notes of fresh strawberry and black cherries, it is no wonder why this Rosé has started to become popular. It has a strong acid backbone and a long dry finish, making it a wonderful wine to pair with food. Its light color is an indication of the thin skinned grape used to make it: Pinot Noir.

Foods that would be successful in a pairing would be Mediterranean dishes with olives, garlic, and rich red sauces. The wine's minerality would pair fantastically with any type of fish as well. I can see myself sitting on a beach somewhere warm sipping this wine and letting the time slip away.

Have any questions or comments? Don't be afraid to reach out and let me know what you have open this month.

Cheers,

Owen