Welcome back to our Fresh Choice Nelson wine aficionado, Neil Hodgson. This week Neil writes about Rosé wines, perfect for a Nelson summer. Take it away, Neil…
They can be very pale, medium or dark in colour. They can be made from Pinot Noir, Merlot or a blend of red and white wine grape varieties. Rosé wines are pretty to look at, but the best versions come bursting with beautiful flavours and intriguing spice characters.
Rosé Wines @ Fresh Choice Nelson:
What’s even better is that 2019 vintage Rosé wines are hitting the shelves. It was a fantastic vintage, and the Rosé wines I have been drinking are deliciously easy to drink. The Grocer at Fresh Choice Nelson has asked his wine buyer, Lee, to pack the shelves with pink treats, and she has done precisely that!
My favourite style of Rosé is on the drier side. The ones that are bursting with fruit flavours and with ripe acidity that makes the mouth water for more. We are fortunate to have some producers of outstanding examples of this style in New Zealand. They have spent years refining a style that suits the grapes they grow.
Nelson Rosé Wines:
In Nelson producers generally, make Rosé from Pinot Noir grapes. However, Middle Earth use Pinot Meunier grapes for their Rosé ($21 a saving of $4). The result is a slightly less fruit-sweetness-driven wine, but a wine that is simply full of off-dry flavours.
A favourite from Central Otago:
From central Otago, Rockburn Wine’s, Stolen Kiss Rosé ($28 a saving of $2) has developed a strong following. I think the 2019 vintage deserves to be consumed by every wine lover. It is beautifully balanced, off-dry yet bursting with delicious Central Otago Pinot flavours.
This summer ensure there are some well-chosen pink wines in your fridge. If you need help choosing the style of Rosé you prefer then have a chat with Lee at Fresh Choice Nelson. She will make sure you walk away with a bottle of deliciousness.
