FLORENCE — Over the years I’ve written about a plethora of wine, spirits and other categories of alcohol-containing imbibements. I half-jokingly remark that if you are going to be a lifelong learner, you may as well make the homework fun. In all honesty, there are many reasons why I bend the proverbial elbow.
Although my daytime job, my genetic heritage and even my family all have their contribution to driving me to drink, the truth is that I was probably close enough to walk. With October rolling into focus, we begin to think about breast cancer awareness. This remains a real-world tangible issue that we all can, with a little effort, continue to make headway toward early detection and a cure.
So, I invite you to not just wear pink but drink pink. Don your ribbon, grab a bottle of rosé and join me for my favorite and most justified reason for consumption — a good cause. Many consumers pigeonhole rosé wines as quaffable juice to pour down their gobs in the heat of the summer.
Granted, this can be a rewarding poolside pastime, but these wines can offer so much more. Even though I snub the coercive seasonal rosé marketing by drinking it year-round, I wholeheartedly believe some of the best food pairings remain with autumn-associated fare. Recently, I have revisited my torrid love affair with Italian rosé with no regrets.
The Bottle Talk: What wines go with football season? Make no mistake, I do find interesting rosé wines spread all over the world, but the Italian rosé portfolio has diversity of styles and varieties that may even rival that of France. The scope of these wines includes those recession-friendly bottles that relieve you of the guilt of purchase as well as the higher tier that displays incredible quality. Some wines have a more attractive price point because they “break” the rules of their local production area.
In this case, the wine includes some international varieties that fall outside the allowed grapes for the appellation. Therefore, the wine must “declassify” to a regional designation, which is no indication of quality. Pasqua Wines 11 Minutes Rosé Trevenezie IGT ($20 ) contains an unapologetic blend of Italian native varieties like Corvina (50 percent) and Trebbiano di Lugana (25 percent) alongside Syrah (15 percent) and Carmenère (10 percent).
The wine shows a tremendous amount of structure with the complexity of floral, red fruit and spice. Not only are you getting more than you pay for at this price point, Pasqua Wines were recently acknowledged as Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. Another rosé that declassifies due to varieties used in its wine is Tenuta Ammiraglia Alìe Rosé Toscana IGT (SRP $25) .
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My amorous relationship with these Italian wines isn’t just limited to those “still” pink beauties but also invites the seductiveness of bubbles. The Bottle Talk: Wines to celebrate the kids returning to school Although there are some great rosé Prosecco examples, traditional method sparkling wines from Franciacorta have put Italy in the same conversation with Champagne. Like Champagne, they are required to undergo the second fermentation in the very same bottle that you buy off the shelf.
Obviously, the grape varieties differ slightly but the labor-intensive production and yeasty tasting elements are still there. With regard to rosé Franciacorta, there is a requirement for a minimum of 15 percent to be Pinot Nero, what we know as Pinot Noir. The other allowed grapes are Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay and the indigenous Erbamat.
Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé ($30) does a spectacular job in showcasing what this region and these wines have to offer. This classic blend of 65 percent Chardonnay and 35 percent Pinot Noir spends 24 to 30 months on the lees (expired yeast), giving it those classic autolytic notes. This along with the red and orchard fruit make the wine reminiscent of an apple, cherry pastry.
The 5 g/L dosage balances the acidity nicely, still leaving the palate bright and refreshing. Although a welcome to consume on its own, the accompaniment of creamy cheese would elevate the situation. I do appreciate sparkling wines that blend different varieties as I feel it adds a certain layered complexity to the wine.
The one exception may be those made with Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero). Majolini Franciacorta Brut Rosé “Altéra” ($60) may be one of the most elegant Franciacorta rosé wines that I’ve had the pleasure of drinking. For a testament to the family’s longevity in the Lombardy Region, you need look no further than the red grape variety, Majolina, recently recognized as an indigenous variety.
The wine itself has subtle but complex aromas of red fruit (strawberry), stone fruit (peach), rhubarb and a baked pie crust nuance. The palate is perceptibly dry, even with an admitted 7.4 g/L sugar content.
The mousse (bubbles) is fine, seductive and caressing on the tongue. There is an added citrus (tangerine) element on the lingering finish that adds to the enjoyment of this wine. I hope I have convinced you to sample some of these wonderful Italian rosé wines in name of breast cancer awareness.
Granted, just drinking rosé wines in the month of October does not effectively help awareness nor generate research dollars. So, I am challenging all the retailers and juice jockeys to publicly pledge a large percentage of rosé revenue generated in the month of October to this great cause. As consumers, we should peer pressure these businesses to post this “campaign” all over their social media sites.
Let’s all drink pink for the best reason of all — a good cause..
