By Rachel Feinblatt By Rachel Feinblatt | July 22, 2021 | Food & Drink Feature
In the thick of rosé season, finding the best drink wine to clink with can a difficult choice. We polled Citarella Wine & Spirits Director Michael Acheson for his advice on how to select the best bottle.
"While I can (and do!) drink rosé in any season, as a category it probably reaches peak deliciousness during the summer, at least from a wine and food pairing perspective," says Acheson. "Great rosé, like many of the world’s top wines, has the ability to transport one through time and space: Grand Cru Riesling and you’re in Turckheim eating Choucroute garnie on a cool autumn evening, Chianti Classico and you’re sharing a table in Panzano, staring down a massive Bistecca alla Fiorentina while Dario Cecchini enthusiastically extolls the virtues of CARNE, etc. Fabulous rosé is made all over the world, but for me the truly iconic stuff hails from Provence, particularly from towns many have probably spent time in like Bandol, Cassis, Aix, Tavel and others. In places like these the food and wine are inextricably linked, and it’s not like the rosé has to be particularly dear, it just has to be delicious and have something to say about where it’s from. Thoughts of garrigue, orange peel, melon, strawberry, rose petal…they’re all evocative of these primarily coastal villages and their cuisine."
Keeping in mind his trusted taste, we raise a glass to the most refreshing bottles to keep on ice.
1. THE PALE
From the geniuses behind Whispering Angel comes The Pale (@thepale), a brand-new rosé set to be a summer staple. The taste is incomparable, made with grapes from the Vin de Pays Du Var region of Provence. Its light fruit notes foster a clean, refreshing finish, and its chic, vintage-inspired packaging evokes the glamour of 1920s New York cocktail parties and street-side cafes in London and Paris— the perfect sip for ushering in the new Roaring ’20s.
2. HAMPTON WATER
It all started in 2017, when rock star and Hamptons resident Jon Bon Jovi took his talents on the stage to co-launch a rosé that danced with flavor. In collaboration with Jesse Bongiovi and Gérard Bertrand, he launched Diving Into Hampton Water Rosé 2020, curated from the perfect blend of grenache, cinsault and mourvèdre grapes. The bottle’s clean packaging matches its flavor, made of bright red fruit flavors from the finest winemakers of the south of France. Perfect for a warm summer’s day, this fresh and flavorful bottle is the greatest refresher. The rock icon even hosts a virtual wine tasting with his two partners to make his drinkers feel like they are “living on a prayer.”
3. AVALINE ROSÉ
The Negrel Family has carried on a 200-plus-year family tradition of crafting delicious wine with unmatched expertise. Co-founders Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power saw a potential in the Negrel Family, collaborating to produce a light, flavorful and fresh rosé. While some are sad to not be traveling this summer, one sip of this bottle (mentally) transports its tasters to the Provencal countryside. Five types of organic grapes— grenache, cinsault, caladoc, cabernet sauvignon and syrah—are beautifully blended to produce a vibrant wine with notes of melon and zest.
4. ROCK ANGEL
For those seeking a more complex and structured taste than Whispering Angel, Rock Angel is the perfect glass. To make the ideal complement to a wide range of cuisines, the process utilizes grapes grown and optically sorted around the region of La Motte en Provence. The rosé is partially barrel-fermented in large oak barrels of grenache, cinsault and rolle (vermentino). Rosé lovers will fall head over heels for this bottle for its rich taste. For those who admire the minerality of a Sancerre, this bottle is a must-try.
5. CHÂTEAU DE BERNE
Château de Berne’s estate is home to some of the most stunning views, activities and Michelin-star meals in Provence, as well as the production site of two tasty rosés. Its Romance Rosé radiates an unmatched lightness, producing sweet aromas and a light pink color. The mouth immediately experiences a fruity sensation after one sip of this delicious bottle. In contrast, Inspiration Rosé presents a more intense tone in both color and taste. Its rich and flavorful nature is why rosé lovers frequently refill their glasses.
6. INVIVO X, SARAH JESSICA PARKER 2020
New is always better, and the second release in the Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker wine collaboration is simply delicious. With origins in the south of France, this bottle has been crafted in partnership with a family estate from Provence, Vins Chevron Villette. The method includes fermenting and macerating grapes to create a stunning color and texture. With Hamptons resident Sarah Jessica Parker’s vibrant touch, the drink radiates nothing but a fresh and crisp taste.
7. ULTIMATE PROVENCE ROSÉ
Behind the hills of St-Tropez lies Ultimate Provence, a large estate with indescribable and breathtaking views and organic and sustainable vineyards. The beauty of the vineyard almost matches the bottle of the rosé produced on it, Ultimate Provence Rosé. The raspberry-strawberry jam layers stimulate a sweet aroma with a spicy palate. Able to stand on its own or paired with acidic food or Asian fusion food, this bottle is perfect for any occasion.
8. SUMMER IN A BOTTLE ROSÉ 2020
The only thing better than enjoying a glass of Summer in a Bottle Rosé 2020 is doing so at Wölffer Estate in Sagaponack. The beautiful and distinctive bottle design is popular among every crowd and provides a balance between fresh fruit, fine tannins, classic minerality and nice acidity. Perfect for a Hamptons summer setting, enjoyed chilled, solo or alongside a charcuterie board, this drink leaves taste buds dancing with flavor.
Photography by: Thumbnail photo courtesy of brand
