Vine Path Blog 4/21: Rose Season is Back Baby!
Rose Season Is Back Baby!
Vine Path Blog 4/21
While Rose season might be the wine industry’s hottest cliché since Beaujolais Nouveau Day, that doesn’t mean that the wines aren’t absolutely delicious. Personally, I love Rose. It’s fantastically refreshing, it’s gorgeous to look at, and when done properly is every bit as good as any other style of wine. As a quasi-serious joke I have a two word argument for why Rose is the best wine on earth: Rose Champagne! When I make that quip I often believe it! This month we’re featuring four beautiful wines fresh off the boat from some spectacular producers that take Rose seriously, like it should be.
Folk Machine Gamay Rose, Arroyo Seco
Kenny Likitprakong
Folk Machine is only one branch of Hobo Wine Co., an eclectic winemaking project by young vigneron Kenny Likitprakong almost 18 years ago. The idea originally was to make Pinot Noir but now this crazy wine company makes a crazy wide array of wines from all over California. Though the portfolio is broad, the production is still small. For this Gamay Rose from Arroyo Seco for instance, they only make around 300 cases. Every year we scramble to get this one because it’s absolutely fabulous and we can never get enough. One thing we adore about Hobo Wine Co. is how committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. Their winery is 100% powered by renewable energy, all their vineyards are sustainably farmed, they exclusively use recycled glass for their bottles, and they’re a 1% For The Planet company. Just like this wine, these people are serious. The wine is lip-smackingly high toned, super refreshing, light, bright, and full of might.
Domaine la Grange Tiphaine Rosa Rose Rosam, Loire
Damien and Coralie Delcheneau of La Grange Tiphaine
Domaine la Grange Tiphaine is one of the finest wineries in the Loire Valley. In Montlouis Sur Loire, their home base, they’re easily one of the top three wineries. This gorgeous little Pet-Nat (short for Petillant Naturel) Is sourced from an 80 year old plot of Grolleau, Gamay, Cot, and Cabernet Franc. They do a quick direct press before fermentation to achieve the color and intensity they’re looking for and then quickly bottle the wine before it’s done fermenting. While the wine continues to ferment in the bottle, carbonation is formed and is trapped under the cap. This process for making sparkling wine is the oldest known method for producing bubbles in wine. This is a personal favorite of mine.
Scribe Winery Estate Rose of Pinot Noir, Sonoma
The winery at Scribe
Scribe Winery is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wineries in California. They’re estate is situated in Sonoma and their wines are brilliant. The young bunch that run this place are making unpretentious wines that brilliantly showcase their estates unique terroir. Far from being the kind of over the top, stuffy, and overly formal wineries in the rest of the region, the people and wines of Scribe are relaxed, easy to enjoy, and exciting to experience. If you ever have occasion to visit wineries in Sonoma a stop at Scribe is a must. This is a Rose of Pinot Noir sourced entirely from their estate. After a quick direct press the wine is fermented up and aged in steel tanks before bottling. If you’ve not yet gotten into Rose made from Pinot you’re in for a treat.
Christina Netzl
Christina Rose, Austria
Believe it or not, Christina Netzl has had a hand in making wine and managing the vineyards at her family’s winery since she was 5 years old. About 10 years ago she started her own namesake winery in her native land Carnuntum, Austria. The wines that she makes are bright, crisp, and refreshing with excellent, billowing aromatics. They’re super vibrant wines with a lot of character. Also, all of her wines are hella fun to drink. This Rose is made from a native Austrian grape called Zweigelt, a light and juicy red variety that’s perfect for making a fresh Rose. This is a perfect summer sipper with all it’s vibrant red fruit and crispy acidity. Christina’s wines have become quite the hit lately in the store!
Sonoma vineyards