Wine Trends: Rose Wine are Red Hot This Summer

Wine Trends: Rose Wine are Red Hot This Summer

I'm not much of a rose wine drinker. A couple years ago I wouldn't be caught dead with a rose wine. They were too sweet. They were for my friends who preferred a lighter fare for their wine drinking escapades or couldn't hang with the big bodied red wines that I preferred.To each their own. Roses were just not my flavor. 

However, all of that changed when I found J.L. Quinson. Seduced by the feminine curves of the bottle, I grabbed a bottle as I perused the rest of the wine section. Upon returning home, the bottle of Quinson sat on my wine rack for a few days longer than the rest of my traditional white wine and red wine friends. Left with nothing else to sip, I chilled my only bottle of wine - J.L. Quinson - one warm summer eve.

To my surprise this rose wine was not sweet. In fact, it was quite dry. Pleasantly dry. And when properly chilled this French rose is the perfect way to unwind during the warm summer months.

It seems as though the old world stigma of rose wines as a less superior vintage is changing. In fact, rose wines are becoming quite popular according to several wine industry experts. 

“It’s really amazing how people are drinking rose so much,” says Michael Madrigale, head sommelier at New York’s Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud restaurants. “Before, two men sitting at a table would never be caught dead drinking rose and now you see it all the time. The stigma of rose being a wimpy wine and rose being white zinfandel and therefore a bad wine is gone and I think the European attitude has really taken hold.”

One thing I didn't realize until I started to explore my new found summer wine is that most roses are made with red grapes, but the skins have been in contact with the fermenting juice for only a short time, hence the pink color. Syrah, grenache and cinsault grapes are typical in rose wines from the South of France, but all kinds of grapes can be used.

So, the question remains...are you a rose wine drinker?

Share with us in the comments wine friends! Then, share this post with your friends.

Cheers!

Katie

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Quick Wine Party Prep Tips from A Bit of Wine

A few weeks ago we featured our suggestions for all your wine party hosting necessities. Beyond having all the right wine tools to host your favorite wine lovin' friends, you want to have a game plan for the wine and food you plan to serve during the festivities.

Here is a quick breakdown of how you can plan a wine menu to meet everyone's palate preferences:

1. Stick to one type of  white wine. Then pick up 1 bottle for every 2 guests. A Chardonnay will typically please most white wine lovers, but don't be afraid to strike out with a Pinot Grigio (aka Pinot Gris) or a blush wine.

2. Only offer one choice of red wine. Then pick up 1 bottle for every 2 guests. A Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine crowd-pleaser. But in some of my more recent experiences an Argentinian Malbec has wow-ed palettes. Or try a Pinot Noir to pair with your food spread.

3. Assemble a cheese platter to pair with your wine selection. Refer to the Entertainer's Guide to Wine & Cheese Pairing that we shared a few weeks ago for a starting point. I also recommend using a cheese platter with serving utensils to label your selections. 

4. Explore offering a sweet treat pairing to complement your wine selection. Chocolate and wine is classic pairing for your red wine. Consider fruit to pair with your white wines - apples, pears, & peaches work nicely with a Chardonnay.

Need more ideas for planning a Quick, Easy, & Delicious Wine Party? Follow us on Pinterest. We collect pins for hors d'oeuvres, serving food, serving wine, party pairing ideas and so much more. Come pin with us on our Quick, Easy & Delicious Wine Party Ideas board.

What is your favorite tip for planning an awesome wine party? Share with us in the comments.

Cheers!

Katie

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Hosting Necessities for Your Next Wine Party

There is nothing that breaks up the dullness of cold weather than a wine party with your favorite wine loving friends. Wine warms the hearts and brings people together and makes memories that last a lifetime. 

We love hosting wine parties with our favorite friends, neighbors, and family. Every wine hostess needs a standard stock of hostess necessities for your next wine party.

Wine Glasses - You can't drink wine without the glass (straight from the bottle is not classy). So, every wine hostess should be prepared with an arsenal of wine glasses. You can pick up the plastic ones, but I've never been a fan of a plastic wine glass. They don't have to be expensive, but make sure you have stemmed wine glasses for your party guests.

Wine Charms - Keep everyone's wine glasses marked with a variety of wine charms. Typically one unique charm per guest. Or try the wine glass marker where you can write names directly on the glass. Either way wine charms make great hostess gifts, and hostesses can always use an extra set.

Cheese Serving Platters - How will you serve your cheese without a fun & stylish platter? Check out any variety of serving platters - from slate to maple. A recycled wine barrel lazy susan makes for a great serving platter when you have a lot of guests over.

Wine Coasters - Eliminate those wine glass rings around your house with stylish wine coasters. The Grab & Go Wine Coaster set slip right onto the foot of a wine glass. So, no matter where you guest sets their glass, there is sure to be no ring.

A wine party is not only a good idea in the cold weather, try hosting a wine party anytime of the year. And the wine sippy cups are great for those outdoor parties - the lid keeps the bugs out and minimizes spills.

So, how many wine parties do you host each year?

Cheers!

Katie

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An Entertainer's Guide to Wine & Cheese Pairing

No one can deny how well wine & cheese go together. But, how many times have you tried to plan a party with a cheese platter, but come up blank on what types of cheeses to buy that will go with the wine you plan to serve?
Well, I found this great quick & easy guide to planning your cheese platters for both the red and white wine lovers who will be joining you. This simple guide will make your wine party planning easier.

Try these

• Brie w/ Chardonnay
• Gouda w/ Merlot
• Sharp White Cheddar w/ Cabernet Sauvignon
• Parmesan w/ Chianti
• Guyere w/ Sauvignon Blanc
• Blue w/ Riesling
• Ricotta w/ Pinot Grigio
• Mozarella w/ Sauvignon Blanc
  
  You can use this guide for a Friday Night In with your favorite girl friends, a neighborhood wine party, or an elegant dinner party hors d'oeuvres. There are a thousand ways you can use this guide and you never have to come up blank when your planning your next wine party.

Which cheese goes best with your favorite wine? Share with us in the comments.

Cheers!

Katie

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Wine & Cheese Pairing Party for 2 with Finca Roja (Malbec)

Who's up for a little mid-week wine pairing fun? Well, apparently Keith and I were a couple nights ago. In a random coincidence of opening an impulse Trader Joe's cheese sampler and a bottle of Finca Roja Malbec left over from the holidays, we decided to take notes on our evening's duo with a wine and cheese pairing party for 2.

The 2012, Argentinian Malbec from the region of Patagonia, Finca Roja found us exploring a new region of one of my most favorite grape varietals. I could enjoy the dark cherry and vanilla flavors of a big bodied Malbec all year round. So, on this frigid day in January as we endure record cold temperatures from the Arctic Vortex, this Finca Roja warmed my heart and soul.

So, how does this big-bodied fruity Malbec pair with a Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler Pack from Trader Joe's? Let's take a look at how these cheese stood up against the bold flavors of Finca Roja.

The Cheeses:

Iberico (from central Spain, made of a blend of cow's, sheep's and goat's milk) - This creamy mild white cheese is delicious, but paired with the big body of the Malbec the cheese is lost. The wine brought out bitter notes in the cheese that was not my favorite experience. Keith enjoyed the pairing noting that the fruit of the wine went well with the creaminess of the cheese.

Cabra Al Vino (otherwise known as the 'Drunken Goat')- This dry sharp white cheese holds its own against the bold cherry of the Finca Roja Malbec balancing out the tannins with its nutty flavors. I could probably eat the cheese all by itself, but the Malbec heightens the flavors creating what I consider a perfect wine and cheese flavor. Its a fruit and nut balance.

Manchego (most well-known Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk) - This is a mild Manchego. While still dry it is not as sharp as the Cabra Al Vino. When paired with our Malbec of the evening, the flavor of the Manchego is lost. Finca Roja takes over the Manchego making me want more of the Cabra Al Vino.

So, what did we learn from this pairing party? 

Mid-week wine & cheese pairings are always a good idea - even when they are impromptu. However, an Argentinian Malbec needs a stronger more pungent cheese to hold its own with the bold flavors of this grape varietal.

Enjoy Finca Roja separate from the Spanish Cheese Tapas Sampler...but both are worth trying if you are wine and cheese lover.

Cheers!

Katie

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