hooray for dry rose

woman on wine with amy reiley Dry rose was a style of wine grossly misunderstood as little as 10 years ago. But these days, when the summer months roll around, everyone is ready to drink pink, (especially me!). You see, while it used to be assumed that anything pink poured into a glass was a White Zinfandel, Americans now accept and embrace that Mediterranean style of pink, which is made to be bone dry, sophisticated and ultra refreshing. Here are some of my picks for affordable roses (think under $20) to take the edge off the summer heat.

Villa Creek
2010 Pink
This is an extremely interesting wine in a style you just don’t find in American rosé. A beautiful salmon color, it is light-bodied with subtle, honey and rose petal aromas, bright red fruit flavors on the mid-palate and a dry, mineral finish. Unique, memorable and one of the most special wines I’ve tried under $15.

Chateau de Trinquevedel
2010 Tavel Cuvee Traditionelle
I absolutely love this classic Tavel. Complex, robust, yet surprisingly elegant, this very sophisticated rosé offers restrained strawberry, tart cherry, pomegranate and honeysuckle aromas and flavors with bone dry, mouthwatering minerality on the finish.

Falesco
2010 Vitiano
Another great buy at around $10, this Italian pink boasts rose petal and strawberry candy aromas, tart berry and stone fruit flavors and a hint of minerality on the lingering finish. It is a food-friendly wine, dry, yet robustly fruity and fun.

Quivira
2010 Rose
Made from a blend of Rhone grapes, this wine has surprising intensity. It teases the tip of the tongue with sweetness, then fills the mouth with flavors of strawberry and rhubarb, hints of orange and peach, like the world’s greatest summer pie.

Graham Beck
2007 Brut Rosé
I have a soft spot for this bubbly as I first drank it on a cliff, at sunset, overlooking a herd of wild elephants. When you try the wine, close your eyes, picture a sunset and let its floral and strawberry sweetness fill you with happy thoughts.