Alice in Wineland Journey to "Dry Rosés"

I came to blogging about wine as the result of an epic overland journey from Alaska to Argentina. Sort of like Alice in Wonderland/Wineland, I fell into the hole, the wine hole. Yes, when I hear folks discussing Chilean and Argentine wines chances are I have been to the winery. Yes, I might have even tasted a few of their Rosés. This is Spaswinefood's first post for Wine Blogging Wednesday. It is also quite fitting that the focus for #WBW80 is Dry Rosés.

It is not like I was not introduced to wine when I came to California over 20 years ago. However, I still had many more wine discoveries to make in my journey through Las Américas. Rosé wine was one of those discoveries. Over the years I had avoided Rosés. For me many of the Rosés of earlier years truly sucked, at least the ones I tasted did. In the last 2-3 years I have tasted some amazing Rosés. My palate has a preference for dry Rosés, either still or sparkling; so the focus for #WBW80 is absolutely perfect.

At the end of 2012 I wrote that I would love to have the following Rosés for the ringing in of 2013. No one sent me any! It just might be because on the list were also red wines, white wines and on it went. For what it is worth here is my list for December 31st, 2012:

Rosés

This past year I fell in love with Rosés; as a result here are a few Rosés that I would love to have:

1) Terra, Kalecik Karasi Roze, Turkey; two other Turkish wineries that also produce great Rosés are Arcadia and Suvla,

2) Alma Negra, Misterie Rosé or Sparkling Rosé of Malbec, Argentina,

3) Pomar Junction Vineyard, Syrah Rosé 2011, Paso Robles AVA, California, and

4) J. Lohr, Gesture Grenache Rosé 2011, Paso Robles AVA, California

Terra, Kaleck Karasi Roze 2011 © Spaswinefood

Arcadia, Cabernet Franc Merlot Roze 2011 © Spaswinefood

Enjoying a glass of Rosé at Suvla Vineyards, Thrace Turkey © Spaswinefood

Alma Negra, Sparkling Rosé of Malbec © Spaswinefood

Pomar Junction Vineyard Syrah Rosé 2011 © Spaswinefood

J. Lohr Gesture Granche Rosé 2011 © Spaswinefood

Before I get back to work on completing my list for 2013 here is a recent Rosé:

A Recent Rosé 

A Rosé from Washington State was my most recent. Last week we were in Woodinville, Washington State. Yes, I drove there. After all, it is a short drive from California. Woodinville is well known for its wineries and tasting rooms. In fact it is a special place to check out Washington State wines. Our first stop was at Columbia Winery, which produces wines from grapes grown in the Columbia Valley and the Yakima Valley.

One of the wines that I tasted was a Rosé of Grenache, Columbia Valley, 2012. The winery's tasting notes does a nice description of this wine. With only 3.5g/L of sugar this wine is pleasantly dry. I loved the fruity, and the Cranberry and other berry aromas. The wine has good acidity. It is fruity on the palate with a nice crisp finish that makes me think of Cranberries. This wine definitely makes me think of YES, Cranberries.

Columbia Winery Rosé of Grenache, Columbia Valley 2012 © Spaswinefood

While it may not make it on my short list of top Rosés I have tasted for 2013 this wine is quite a pleasant Dry Rosé . Overall it is a perfect Rosé for a summer gathering with friends.

My Rosé Journey is to be continued. Check out my travels in Washington State and elsewhere at Spaswinefood.

Sharon
August 2013
Somewhere in the Northwest
© Spaswinefood

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