Rosé wines are among the most versatile and appreciated in the Italian wine scene. Produced from black grapes with a short maceration on the skins, rosé wines are distinguished by their delicate color and aromatic nuances. But what are the characteristics of rosé wines and what are the most famous production areas? Let's see together.
How rosé wines are produced
Rosé wines are obtained from black grapes with a technique called rosé winemaking . This consists of reducing the contact time between the must and the skins to the minimum necessary to extract a small quantity of colouring and tannic substances. The must is then separated from the skins and fermented like a white wine, without further extraction.
Rosé winemaking allows for wines with a light and delicate color, ranging from pale pink to salmon to cherry, depending on the grape variety and the length of maceration. Rosé wines also have a light or medium structure, with moderate acidity and a low presence of tannins.
The only exception to the rosé winemaking is that of cuvées of rosé sparkling wines obtained through the classic method , which can also be obtained by mixing white and red base wines.
Types of rosé wines
Rosé wines are produced throughout Italy, with a great variety of vines and interpretations. However, we can distinguish two large categories of rosé wines: those fresh and light and those medium-structured .
Fresh and light rosé wines are those that are closest to white wines in terms of serving and pairing methods. They are ideal wines for aperitifs, to accompany fish dishes, white meats, fresh cheeses and vegetables. They are wines that are drunk young, within one or two years of the harvest, to appreciate their freshness and fragrance.
Among the fresh and light rosé wines we find most of the wines produced in northern Italy, such as Claret of Garda (Bardolino or Valtènesi), the Rosato dell'Oltrepò Pavese , the Lagrein Kretzer of South Tyrol and the Rosé from Piedmont .
Medium-bodied rosé wines are those that are closest to red wines in terms of complexity and intensity of aromas and flavors. These are wines that can also handle more full-bodied pairings, such as red meat dishes, game, mature and spicy cheeses. These are wines that can also benefit from a short aging in wood or bottle, to enhance their elegance and persistence.
Among the medium-bodied rosé wines we find most of the wines produced in central and southern Italy, such as Cherry of Abruzzo , the Tintilia of Molise , the Cirò Rosato , the Salice Salentino Rosato , the Lands of Cosenza Rosé and many others.
The best Italian rosé wines
Choosing the best Italian rosé wines is a difficult task, given the great quality and variety of the offer. However, we can cite some examples of rosé wines that have stood out for their balance, their expressiveness and their personality.
Among the fresh and light rosé wines, we can mention the Perrosé DeSilva IGT by Peter Solva, a wine with an intense pink color and a scent of berries, especially blackcurrant, with a persistent and soft taste. Another example is the RosèVeryDay Rosato Veneto IGT by Borga , a wine with a salmon pink color and delicate scents of rose, white peach and small red fruits, with an excellent balance and fresh acidity on the palate.
Among the medium-bodied rosé wines, we can mention the Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo di Novaripa, a cherry red wine with a scent of raspberries, blood oranges, licorice and Mediterranean scrub, with a full, soft and persistent sip. Another example is the Calafuria Rosé Salento IGT by Masseria Maime - Marchesi Antinori, a wine with an antique pink color and the scent of Mediterranean scrub, pomegranate and raspberry, with a delicately savoury, fresh and excellently balanced sip.
Conclusions
Rosé wines are a type of wine that deserves to be discovered and appreciated for its versatility and elegance. They are wines that adapt to different occasions of consumption and to different dishes of Italian cuisine. They are wines that best express the territory and the vine from which they come. They are wines that give emotions and satisfaction. In short, they are wines to try!
