Grenache Rosé: The Perfect Warm-Weather Wine from the Clif Family
Rosé is one of the most versatile wines, with flavors ranging from citrus and watermelon to strawberry and cherry. This wide flavor profile makes it a delicious choice for pairing with summer meals or enjoying on its own.
Clif Family Winemaker Laura Barrett makes our Rosé of Grenache “intentionally”, meaning that we specifically grow, harvest, and vinify the Grenache grapes to make rosé rather than a red wine. Although rosé is made from red wine grapes, the process looks a lot more like white wine making. The wine is made using a process called maceration, where the crushed grape skins briefly soak in the juice to extract just enough color, flavor, and delicate tannins. Unlike red wine making, the skin contact is limited to 24 hours to preserve the light pink color and fresh, vibrant flavors.
The wine is aged in 100% stainless steel barrels for four months with no malolactic fermentation. This preserves its fresh flavors and bright acidity and enhances the fruity and floral tasting notes of the wine. Because of this, rosé is not a wine that you typically age. We always recommend popping the cork on a bottle of rosé soon after bottling for the freshest flavor in your glass.
We make our Rosé from Grenache grapes because they have an ideal balance of bright acidity and delicate fruit character. Grenache has naturally lower tannins and good acidity, resulting in a bright and clean wine with delicious aromas and flavors. And the grape’s thin skin allows Laura to extract that beautiful “ballet-slipper” shade of pink that our rosé is known for.
Rosé can be made from Cinsualt to Pinot Noir and many grape varietals in between, but some of the most well-loved rosé wines in the world are made from Grenache grapes. The Grenache grape is indigenous to the Aragon region of northeastern Spain, but one of the most famous regions for Grenache-based rosé is Provence in France. These wines are known for their crisp mouthfeel and delicate fruit flavors. While France is the iconic home of Grenache-based rosé, this style of wine can be found around the world, sometimes labeled as Garnacha Rosado in Spain and other regions.
Rosé is a wine that is meant to be chilled. Serve it cold, ideally somewhere between 44 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Since rosé is known for its zippy acidity, chilling will help highlight the crisp and refreshing flavors of the wine. Chilling the wine will also help lock in its fruity aromas while you leisurely enjoy a glass…or two!
