Like us here in the Barossa, you may be finding yourself just starting to move out of hearty, winter comfort-foods and into lighter options. With the change in seasons, we thought it was perfect timing to help you discover more of a style gaining great popularity – Rosé.
Rob likes that our Rosé is very unique and can’t be readily found in Australia.
“It’s one of the few straight Graciano Rosés I have heard of. This grape variety is usually blended as Rosé with Shiraz or Grenache in California, Spain and Portugal,” said Rob.
“The inherent colour and structure of this variety can be used to minimise skin contact for pale a Rosé colour, as with other varieties. In the process Graciano retains a reassuring savoury note. It also develops better in the bottle.”
Given our freshly-bottled 2021 Discovery Road Graciano Rosé has also just hit the Cellar Door shelves, here’s some Rosé Myth Busting to help you uncover more about Rosé.
Myth: Rosé is just red and white wine blended together
Fact: Whilst Rosé can be by made by blending finished red and white wine together, generally speaking the best examples are purposely crafted from red varieties only. The time on grape skins (maceration) during fermentation and the grape variety determines the colour of the Rosé. In Australia, common varieties seen in Rosé include Shiraz, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Sangioevese and Nebbiolo.
Myth: Rosé is usually sweet and simple
Fact: Rosé can be crafted with varying levels of natural residual sugar (measured as ‘grams per litre’). The recent popularity rise of Rosé however has been largely toward dry styles, with lower residual sugar. Rosés can also be complex wines, with an array of aromatic profiles, textures (‘mouthfeel’) and acidity all contributing to interest.
Myth: Rosé is normally just an aperitif, it doesn’t pair well with food
Fact: Whilst yes, Rosé can be enjoyable simply on it’s own, it can equally make for a fantastic wine style to pair with, especially lighter food options. Sushi, sashimi and antipasto make for ideal pairings, especially as we move into the warmer months of the Australian Spring and Summer. If you’re stuck trying to find a wine that appeals to a broad range of palate preferences, Rosé can serve as a crowd pleaser to discerning friends and family.
Myth: Rosé is just the latest fad, it won’t last
Fact: Rosé can trace its origins to early Greek and Roman times and was particularly popularised in Southern France in the 1800s. The last decade in Australia has seen it rise to more prominence, with a mix of stylistic variations, colours, textures and dryness levels available.
Discovery Road by Gibson 2021 Graciano Rosé can be found here.
