Hold on to your britches because Rosé is no longer just your grandmother’s wine. Winemakers around the state have been changing the perception of Rosé as that jug of sweet White Zin passed around by old ladies. They are making a wide variety of beautiful, innovative Rosés with zest, experimenting with premium grapes of different varietals and taking risks that have come out beautifully.
I was introduced to this movement in the fall of 2013, when I tasted a lovely Grenache Rosé created by Jean Claude Beck at Woodhouse Wine Estates. The fresh, crisp taste and the tingle it put on my tongue instantly had me using it as a sparkling wine for holidays and other occasions. Since that experience, my eyes and palette have been opened to other pink-hued adventures.
Sarah Goedhart, now the head winemaker for Hedges Family Estates, make a lovely Rosé of Syrah that is subtle and smooth. Andrew Martinez of Martinez & Martinez makes a sexy Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé that sparkles like a gem. Others around the state are refining their traditional Rosés of Sangiovese and venturing into other varietals. This is what I call Wine Porn, OMG!
I am in total awe of how the Washington wine industry has stepped out of box with beautiful takes on single varietals across the spectrum. The pink rosés being only one shining example of this.