Our Summer Special has us blushing!
Introducing our first ever special feature of Rosé wines...and the best part? You get 6! Our Special Summer Rosé package showcases the best of Santa Barbara County Rosé with 6 different high-quality, dry wines made by small boutique wineries. Enjoy a glass by the pool, over lunch with some friends or relaxing after a day’s work. A true horizontal tasting* at its best! (Plus FREE shipping!)
Rosé has been on the rise in recent years, and for good reason. The stereotype of pink wine is that it’s sweet, fruity and lacking in depth. However, a better understanding of production methods and an increase in quality demand has quickly launched the style into a new age of more complex, dry and enjoyable Rosés.
What is a Rosé wine?
Firstly, a Rosé can be made from a number of different grape varietals. Some popular styles are made from Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah and Carignane. Just as their red wine counterparts, the Rosés made from these varietals or a mix of varietals express a range of aromas and flavors. For example, Grenache Rosés tend to yield a fragrant nose with an abundance of floral aromas and a delicate palate profile while Pinot Noir Rosés can develop juicy aromas of strawberries, cherries and other red fruits complimented by a complex palate structure.
Secondly, Rosés can be produced using a few different methods: skin contact, saignée, or blending. The skin contact method is performed by crushing the grapes and allowing the dark skins a few days to remain in contact with the juice. Saignée (pronounced Son-yay) is a French term that translates to ‘bleeding’. For this method, some of the juice from the crushed grapes is allowed to ‘bleed off’ and therefore leaves the remaining juice with a higher concentration of skins allowing for more coloration. The third method, blending, is a technique of mixing white wine with some red wine. This method, however, is uncommon and even discouraged in some areas. The end result of all three methods is a beautiful pink colored wine. Experimenting with different factors such as how long the juice is in contact with the skins, gives winemakers an opportunity to produces a range of color from light salmon pink to a darker ruby pink wine.
With such diversity and increase in quality, Rosé wines are flying off the shelves. Luckily, we were able to snag a few for your enjoyment. Grab a glass and discover your favorite Santa Barbara County Rosé today!
Order your Rosé Summer Special!• Timbre "Opening Act" 2016 Rosé
• Para Maria de los Tecolotes 2016 Rosé
• Brander 2016 Rosé
• Tercero 2016 Rosé
• Dragonette 2016 Rosé
• Ampelos 2016 Rosé of Syrah
*There are two types of tastings, vertical and horizontal. A vertical tasting is with a few bottles of the same varietal but with different vintages. A horizontal tasting, such as our Rosé Special, includes a few bottles of the same vintage but have been made with different varietals.