This weekend is the unofficial kickoff to Summer, and while traditional celebrations are currently on pause, there is no better way to salute the switch than in your glass, making the official transition to “Rosé all Day”

Here’s a quick overview of the style that has become the mascot of a season, and a few recommendations that are tried and true, amongst all the trend-setting celebrity marketed brands mixed in on the shelves.

A true still rosé wine, one that is intentionally made with rosé as the final goal, is made using skin-contact from the grapes after they are pressed. The juice is allowed to remain in contact with the dark grape skins for a much shorter time than if a red wine were going to be produced. The grapes are also harvested earlier than for a red, allowing the crisp, tart characteristics to impart the flavors into the finished product.

Saignée, meaning to bleed, is also a method used for making rosé. This is done when some juice is bled from the maceration, which allows the remainder to become more concentrated and produce a bigger, bolder red wine. The wine that was bled off from the batch is usually a darker pink and has bolder fruit notes than a rosé produced with the skin-contact method. This was once discarded or drank as mere table wine, but then some wise person realized the sales potential in bottling this castaway liquid and so, saignée rosés entered the market.

The third and final way that a rosé can be made is with the blending method. This is done by adding some red wine to a white wine to produce the pink color. This method can still be found in use without judgment in the Champagne region, but otherwise, is generally looked down upon or not even allowed in other rosé regions.

A rosé wine can be made from any red wine grape, as the juice always starts out as a white wine, so almost every region and country has some form of rosé they are making, but several regions, specifically in France, such as Provence and Tavel, are known for intentionally making rosé and have pioneered the art of the style. Many others are learning quickly and quality rosés can be counted on in areas, such as Willamette Valley, Spain, and Greece. Rosé is a wine style that has a lot of versatility with food pairings and flavor profile variation, so no need to stop enjoying once Summer concludes. Cheers to your rose colored glasses!

Provence, makes a very pale pink style from up to 13 varietals, but the most commonly used are Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. Fleurs de Prairie Rosé, is a consistently beautiful wine, and not just because of the gorgeous bottle. There are notes of cucumber, strawberry, unripe watermelon and hints of rose petal. 

Willamette Valley, Oregon is a cool climate known for their Burgundian style pinot noirs and chardonnays, but some vineyards have begun dedicating plots of their pinot noir grapes to making quality rosés. Stoller Family Estate Vineyard in Dundee Hills has a stellar example that will be a brighter pink and display peach, pineapple, raspberry and cherry notes with a bright acidity and crisp minerality

The Rioja region is Spain is known for world class reds, but are also making great rosés as well. Bodegas Muga Rosado is produced with Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes and is a light salmon pink color with grapefruit, citrus notes and a racing acidity. The perfect compliment to a hot summer day!