Ask most wine drinkers about the most romantic bottles for special occasions, and one style is sure to come up time and time again: sparkling rosé.
It makes sense, given its lovely pink hue and the celebratory nature of bubbles. “It’s the pinks and reds, we associate these with romance,” says Wine Enthusiast Tasting Director Anna-Christina Cabrales, a Champagne superfan. “There’s also just something about hearing the pop of a cork, you know something special is about to happen.”
These beautiful bubbles get their blush hue from the skins of black-skinned grapes, conveyed either via blending in still red wine or allowing juice to undergo a short period of skin contact (a process known as saignée). The shades of the resulting wines can span from light salmon all the way to rich, almost blood red.
Meanwhile, flavors can range from white strawberry, watermelon and red fruits to savory notes, like bacon, herbs and spices including clove, black pepper, tarragon, mint and thyme. All of these elements make the category incredibly diverse and well-suited for a wide variety of palates. “People don’t seem to understand the versatility of sparkling rosé,” says Cabrales.
These rose-tinted wines, which are now produced around the globe, pair well with all kinds of dishes, from tuna steaks and pork chops to rich Wagyu beef—yet another reason any one of the the bottles listed below are ideal for the holiday of love. Start with caviar or oysters and move onto steak, quail or even veal Milanese
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
