Why You Should Drink Rosé

rose-wine-smallerDoes the idea of drinking pink wine make you blush? It’s time to forget what you think you know about rosé. Trust me, rosé is nothing like sweet white zinfandel of the past.

Rosé has been making a huge comeback in the United States. According to vinography.com, rosé consumption in the U.S. has been skyrocketing, with sales growing in the double digits every year for the past several years. In New York next month there’s the inaugural La Nuit en Rosé or The Night of Pink, a wine tasting event dedicated to rosé.

The biggest producers of rosé by volume are France, Spain (where it’s called rosado), Italy (where it’s called rosato), and the U.S. In France alone, where rosé wines have been hot and trendy for decades, rosé wine consumption has increased every year since 1990.

Rosé is also making moves among pop culture. Just listen to any song by rapper Rick Ross, who even goes by the nickname “Ricky Rozay.”  You’ll hear him name drop a sparkling rosé called Luc Belaire Rare Rosé. Even though there isn’t a confirmed financial deal between Ross and the wine, he has featured it in music videos and as gifts to other music industry influencers. That’s a lot of rosé.

chateau-miravalOther celebs taking a more involved approach to rosé are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. A few years ago the couple purchased Chateau Miraval, a winery in Provence, France. In partnership with the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel they released their first vintage rosé in 2012. Last year the wine was rated No. 84 in Wine Spectator magazine’s list of the top 100 wines – in fact it was the only rosé to make the list.

Additionally, consumers changing lifestyle trends have made rosé the perfect fit for less formal meals, embracing new encounters, celebrating good times and instant satisfaction.

Rosé also pairs incredibly well with food. Its many styles are perfect for summer food pairings from a barbeque, picnic or backyard lounging. It’s also fairly affordable so there are a number of good options you can find for around $15. And unlike red wine, rosé doesn’t improve with age so it’s easy to get your hands on.

The next time you’re looking for a refreshing summer drink, opt for a chilled glass of rosé.

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