Cape Town - Thanks to that 3rd century Roman remembered as Saint Valentine, sales of pinks, bubblies and sparkling grape juice will soar this month.
The sweet news to winemakers is that more couples are staying with rosé after the romantic weekend has faded from memory.
From now through to Easter and beyond, these companionable wines elevate picnics into stylish feasts at little cost.
Senior consumers, who remember most rosés as cheap, sweet and often nasty, are savouring the current harvest of crisp, low-alcohol pinks that lack the acidity of astringent whites.
Men who studiously avoided pink wines as “girl stuff” are being converted as they sample rosés produced from their favourite red wine varietals – cabernet sauvignon, pinotage, merlot and shiraz. Then there’s the palatable price factor: rosés are affordable, with good quality wines obtainable for around R55.
What is rosé? It can be a blend of red and white wines, such as those comprising classic champagne varietals, chardonnay and pinot noir.
Most are made from red grapes, with the juice pressed enough to extract a little colour from the skins. After fermentation they are bottled fairly soon and are on the market within a few months. They are meant to be drunk young, not stored away.
Blanc de noir is made from red grapes left on the skins long enough to extract just a little colour – many are pale, onion-skin pink rather than rosy.
On Saturday, an inaugural festival, Revving up Rosé, takes place at Rickety Bridge estate outside Franschhoek, where enthusiasts will find a selection of still and bubbly rosés, cocktails and food to match.
Winemaker host Wynand Grobler will present his Foundation Stone rosé, a blend of shiraz, grenache and mourvèdre, along with his classic rosé Cap Classique. Staying in Franschhoek, merlot fans will enjoy La Petite Ferme’s Pink, an enduring favourite.
When shopping for these blush wines, spend a minute reading the back label: between the marketing hype you should find out what grapes the winemaker used and check the alcohol levels.
Shiraz devotees should enjoy rosés like Saronsberg’s, an expression of Tulbagh’s terroir, while adventurous palates can hone in on those made from lesser-known grapes: Quando’s zesty rosé uses mourvèdre, while the Petit pink from Ken Forrester is sourced from grenache.
Our rosy brut Cap Classiques, both fruity yet dry, deserve their popularity. One elegant Stellenbosch example, Muratie’s Lady Alice Brut, made from pinot noir is named after a notable early custodian of this historic farm.
There are several non-alcoholic rosé sparkling wines to try, most of which are semi-sweet. Robertson Winery’s Sweet Sparkling Pink costs just R36.50.
While these easy-going wines make great mates for summer fare from starters to dessert, they are essential companions for treats like smoked salmon and strawberries, complementing salads of every sort.
With cocktails still a global trend, experiment using a crisp rosé as the main ingredient: Add juices like cranberry and rev up the flavour with a liqueur such as crème de cassis.
Entertaining on a budget? Fill a beautiful glass bowl with blush wine, add soda and summer fruits in every shade of rose.
The first Revving up Rosé festival tomorrow will see more than a dozen producers pour their pinks, both still and sparkling.
The day starts with a run and a MTB ride, after which breakfast will be on sale. There’s a rosé-friendly menu at Paulina’s restaurant or picnics can be pre-booked. Rosé cocktails and tapas take over at sunset with live music. Tickets cost R120 with glass and tastings.
Book through www.webtickets.co.za or pay at the door. Visit www.ricketybridge.com for more information.
Myrna Robins, Cape Argus