Sunday, 14 March 2021, is Mother’s Day in the UK and this is a favourite time of year for me. The sun starts to shine, the days are getting longer and the garden comes into bloom. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day and the beginnings of spring than with a glass of rosé wine?
Rosé wine is mainly made with red grapes. The colour is produced when the juice is left in contact with the grape skins for a very short time – usually less than one day. This is in contrast to red wine, where the grape skins stay with the juice throughout the fermentation process to give a much deeper colour. Rosé wine is never produced by mixing red and white wines – this is only allowed in rosé champagne.
A wide range of grape varieties are used in rosé wine. This means there are many different styles available. From the pale onion-skin colour of Provençal rose through to the brighter pinks of new world versions, the different styles are endless and work in many settings. From grilled fish, pizzas and salads or even a fruit-based dessert
Here are some of my favourites, so however you’re spending Mother’s Day this year – together, remotely or in memory – I hope there’s something for everyone.
The wines
Firstly, from Provence
Miraval Rosé (Tesco; Majestic) is my concession to a ‘celebrity’ wine – it came to fame after Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought the estate. But of all the ‘celebrity’ roses I think this is the best value for money. The quality of the wine speaks for itself regardless of the famous connections. The wine is full of strawberries and cream, raspberries, redcurrants and has a wonderful savoury black pepper spice, which develops with a little age. Perfect with grilled vegetables.
I’m a huge fan of the Williams Chase Provence Rosé (Champion Wines) from British Distiller Chase, famous for gin and vodka and now producing wine in Provence. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Vermentino the wine is full of strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants with a bit of peach and apricot. It is dry and very refreshing and works well for long afternoons with nibbles, a picnic or sharing platters.
Organic from Chile
This Adobe rosé from Emiliana is from the Rapel Valley in Chile and fully organic (available at Champion Wines). This means the grapes get plenty of water to ripen and cool nights for acidity. The wine is delicious – on the nose is redcurrants, a savoury element and black pepper. The same flavours are on the palate plus strawberries and cream and a few cherries thrown in for good measure. Great with salads or perhaps lightly grilled fish.
An English rose
And my favourite ‘go to’ rosé, especially in early spring is the Chapel Down English Rosé (Waitrose). Chapel Down is based in Kent, where the chalky soils are similar to that found in Champagne. This means the wines are elegant, like their French cousins but with the lightness and freshness that I love in English wines. The wine is beautiful – like an English summer – think flavours of strawberries and cream, redcurrants, raspberries with a hint of blossom and elderflower. Works brilliantly with pizza, salads and even a BBQ if the weather is warm enough.
So let’s raise a glass and hope for sunshine as we celebrate Mother’s Day and the beginnings of spring! 🌷☀️
About
Jo is an independent wine enthusiast, who is qualified as WSET Level 3 (with distinction). She is passionate about wine and enjoys sharing her advice through her blogs. Jo is also a keen photographer and loves taking the photos of wine almost as much as tasting it! Read more on My Story.
