Picnic time wine
Claudine Earley
MY first experience of Rosé was the Portugese number Mateus Rosé. Produced since WWII, Mateus reached its pinnacle of popularity in the 1970s, when no self-respecting fondue party was without it.
This is a pretty pink lightly sparkling wine in a medium sweet style, popular with Middle Eastern dictators. Saddam Hussein allegedly had cases of it stockpiled in the underground vaults of his palaces. You can still get it at Woolies ($11), if you want to go retro this summer.
But times have changed. Much more interesting food friendly Rosés are now available, homegrown and not at all linked to dodgy dictators. Our winemakers choose either Pinot Noir or Merlot grapes and leave the juice on the skin for a wee while, to extract a little colour and tannin from the skins.
Waimea Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 ($18) from Nelson smells like ripe strawberries. Made in a just off-dry style, it’s a little sweeter than the next two wines, so you can sip it on its own and enjoy its full-fruit flavours. This wine will grow on you.
Ti Point Rosé 2010 ($17 at Glengarry) is one for those who like their Rosés drier and Merlot-based. A nose of strawberries primes you for a mouthful of watermelon, creamy in the front of the palate, with a clean lime finish. Long may summer last!
Wine of the week: Te Mania Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 ($16 at Regional) was the most popular at our tasting. Chris from Raumati South noted with glee that “it dances on the palate.” It’s a dry and zippy wine, with loads of lively berry aromas and flavours, balanced by that lovely Rosé creaminess that is fast becoming intrinsic to the NZ style. Fine picnic time wine.
This is a pretty pink lightly sparkling wine in a medium sweet style, popular with Middle Eastern dictators. Saddam Hussein allegedly had cases of it stockpiled in the underground vaults of his palaces. You can still get it at Woolies ($11), if you want to go retro this summer.
But times have changed. Much more interesting food friendly Rosés are now available, homegrown and not at all linked to dodgy dictators. Our winemakers choose either Pinot Noir or Merlot grapes and leave the juice on the skin for a wee while, to extract a little colour and tannin from the skins.
Waimea Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 ($18) from Nelson smells like ripe strawberries. Made in a just off-dry style, it’s a little sweeter than the next two wines, so you can sip it on its own and enjoy its full-fruit flavours. This wine will grow on you.
Ti Point Rosé 2010 ($17 at Glengarry) is one for those who like their Rosés drier and Merlot-based. A nose of strawberries primes you for a mouthful of watermelon, creamy in the front of the palate, with a clean lime finish. Long may summer last!
Wine of the week: Te Mania Pinot Noir Rosé 2009 ($16 at Regional) was the most popular at our tasting. Chris from Raumati South noted with glee that “it dances on the palate.” It’s a dry and zippy wine, with loads of lively berry aromas and flavours, balanced by that lovely Rosé creaminess that is fast becoming intrinsic to the NZ style. Fine picnic time wine.
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