A Rosé by any other name

On a hot summer’s days something soft and refreshing is required to quench the thirst. Red wines can be too heavy and some white wines too tart and acidic for hot weather. This is where Rosé wines can come to the rescue and above all offer fun. A well chilled bottle of Rosé wine, shared with friends and family is the perfect way to relax and enjoy a special weekend afternoon. Rosé wines can either be drunk alone as an aperitif or with food. Rosé wines can compliment almost any dish for example: crisp salads, spicy foods, seafood, or, grilled meats straight from the barbeque. Rosé wines come in a variety of styles from dry, semi-sweet to very sweet. There are also sparkling Rosés such as a luxurious pink Champagne, or, a recent addition to the market, a pink Port (which is a fortified wine) from Portugal.

Rosé wines are said to originate from the south of France where the hot Mediterranean summers are conducive to alfresco living. By volume, the region of Provence with its long coastline produces half of all the wine made in France, and more than eighty percent of this is Rosé. The main grape variety for making Rosé in Provence is Mourvèdre, which is actually a red grape. There are three methods for producing Rosé wines. The first is by blending red and white wine, a method usually used for cheaper wines. Then there is the method favoured in France and Provence called saignée, whereby some juice is immediately “bled” off the crushed red grapes. The remaining grape juice then has a higher grape skin to juice ratio. However, because the fruit has been harvested at optimal ripeness for red wine, there is a tendency for this style of Rosé to be high in alcohol. Most serious Rosé producers prefer the third method, whereby grapes are purpose grown to produce Rosé wines in specially selected vineyards. The grapes are harvested early to ensure higher acid and lower alcohol levels. The clear juice is left in contact with the skins after crushing to acquire the desired degree of pinkness. The longer the juices contact with the skins, the deeper the colour of the Rosé.

In Kenya a range of Rosé wines are available in good supermarkets and from wine suppliers. As with red and white wines, when choosing a Rosé wine decide whether you prefer a dry or sweet style. Rosé wines available in Kenya are mainly from the New World: South Africa, Australia, Chile and the USA. They are made with grape varieties such as Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. They are increasingly available in what is called an off-dry style, which is described as semi-sweet on the label. “Semi-sweet” is a technical term and means that the wine has a residual sugar content above five to twenty milligrams per litre. Rosé wines are best drunk young, so look out for 2011 or 2010 vintages and be wary of any Rosé still on the shelves older than 2008. The exception to the rule is the wines from Tavel in the Southern Rhône in France, where some Rosé wines can mature nicely in the bottle for a decade or more. For a special occasion try a bottle fermented sparkling Rosé from the Champagne region in France, or from South Africa, Chile and Australia.

Here are some examples of Rosé wines available in Kenya, which were tasted with friends recently.

1. Villiera Brut Rosé, Method Cap Classique, South Africa, non-vintage, KSH2,600 available from MIA Wines and Spirits International (email: Kafrawines@nbi.ispkenya.com). A classy bottle fermented sparkling wine known as Méthode Cap Classique in South Africa. Interesting in that this Brut Rosé is unusual in that it is made with a majority of the red grape Pinotage, South Africa’s only indigenous grape.


2. Cinzano Rosé Vino Spumante Gran Cuvée, Italy, non-vintage, about KSH1,000 to 1,500, available in many supermarkets in Kenya. A sparkling sweet wine not to be taken too seriously.


3. Juno Cape Maidens Rosé, South Africa, 2010, KSH850, available from MIA Wines and Spirits International (email: Kafrawines@nbi.ispkenya.com). Cranberry cherry colour, dry, light and lively.


4. Goats do Roam Rosé, South Africa, 2010, KSH930, available from Mia Wines and Spirits International (email: Kafrawines@nbi.ispkenya.com). This is a Shiraz led Rosé, fresh, and zesty berry flavours.


5. Kleinfontein Rosé, South Africa, 2010, KSH850, available from Jos. Hasen (email: info@hansenkenya.com). Salmon pink, dry and bright fruit.


6. Frontera Cabernet Blush, Chile, 2010, KSH900 to KSH950, available from most good supermarkets. Dark Rosé, relatively high alcohol at 13.5%, ripe fruit and smooth tannins.


7. Nabygelegen House Wine Rosé, South Africa, non-vintage, KSH850, available from Jos. Hasen (email: info@hansenkenya.com). Merlot base Rosé, medium body, fresh acidity and good finish. This was one of the favourites amongst my friends.


8. Carlo Rossi California Rosé, USA, non-vintage, KSH1,200, available in supermarkets. I think this has some Zinfandel a grape very much associated with California.


9. Angove Nine Vines Rosé, Australia, 2010, KSH1,200, available from in supermarkets. A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Shiraz. A bright pink wine bursting with Australian sunshine.


10. Bellingham Rosé, South Africa, 2011, KSH766, available from Wines of the World (Telephone 020 264 6020). Light pink, tangy and semi-sweet.


11. Caliterra Reserva Rosé, Chile, 2010, KSH1,200, available in supermarkets. Another Shiraz based Rosé from the Colchagua Valley in the Central region of Chile.