Ask any wine fan, even an aficionado, about their favourite wine variety, and the answer would invariably be either a white or a red wine, with maybe sparkling wines coming in to make up the numbers.
Rosé wine, meanwhile, goes quietly unnoticed. In recent times, however, the popularity of rosé (also known as blush) has gone up, and for a lot of people it’s the perfect easy drinking wine, something that has the crispness of white and the robust taste of red.
Rajiv Purohit, wine sommelier at the ITC Grand Central, says that for the longest time, it was the perception that went against rosé wines. “Most people would never give rosé wine a fair trial because it was considered to be a ladies drink. The colour and the taste went against it. It’s only since the late 90s that it’s picked up,” he informs. “And it’s a really nice, refreshing drink, one that can be had in the summer afternoons just as well as a dinner companion.”
The best rosé wines, he adds, comes from the Zinfandel varietal. “It’s also very versatile, and can be paired with a large variety of foods, far more than your regular white or red wines. Even Indian finger foods and kebabs go well with a rosé wine, and given the fact that it’s usually among the first wines you serve at dinner, you serve it chilled at about 10-12 degrees and serve with the starters. The aromas and flavours, I’ve found, open up quite well when served here. Just ensure the starters aren’t too spicy and you’ll do great,” Purohit adds.