Maybe because it’s a blend, maybe because there’s no point in aging it, or maybe because half-full bottles of it sit wedged into Tacoma refrigerator doors with decorative stoppers jammed in them, but rosé has a dodgy reputation. It’s grocery-store wine. It’s “cougar juice.” It’s simply an embarrassing color. Except, no, it isn’t. Well, get ready for a roséducation. The Greeks and the Romans made rosé. Monks made rosé too. Rosé wines are generally made from red grapes and are very versatile wines. A rosé wine will also be lighter in color than red wine, deeper in color than white wine. The pink color of rosé wine depends on the time the grape skin stays in contact with the juice, also known as maceration. There are also rosé wines that are semi-sparkling or sparkling, with different intensities of sweetness levels and dryness. Drop those ridiculous stereotypes and just #drinkpink. With National Rosé Day only recently being created in 2015, the flourishing “holiday” has excited rosé fans every year on the second Saturday in June. Peaks & Pints paints the mother pink with an in-house flight of rosé wine, rosé cider, and rosé beer that we call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Rosé.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Rosé
Winderlea Rose of Pinot Noir 2021
12.7% ABV
A 50-acre site sits high atop the Dundee Hills in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and is currently planted to 24 acres of vines, with the oldest vines originally planted in 1977. Current owners David and Christine Vernier are now leasing the site to Winderlea. Winderlea is farming and managing the property and in 2021 earned Demeter Biodynamic® certification for this site. Speaking of 2021, that year’s vintage will go down as one of Oregon’s vintages to remember. Warmer and drier weather than usual in March and April woke up the vines and the season was off to an early start. Flowering was clear and dry. Just one rain occurrence happed just before bloom and naturally helped to keep yields in check, ultimately leading to fruit with balance and idea ripeness. Winderlea’s Rose of Pinot Noir 2021 delicately hued rosé brings an abundance of aromas including honeydew, grapefruit and rainier cherry, followed by strawberry, crushed watermelon candy and a hint of cherry blossom. Dry on the palate with energizing acidity and a refreshing finish, you can’t help but be led to visions of endless warm nights ahead.
Double Mountain Irene Rose Red Fleshed Cider
5.9% ABV
Matt Swihart, owner of Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery, stepped into the cider world in 2017 with his Dry Cider, made using Newtown apples he grows on his Odell-area property: Double Mountain farm, which had its name before Swihart opened Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom 17 years ago in Hood River. He’s killing it in the cider world, as they say. His Red Fleshed Rosé is made from red fleshed Mountain Rose and Pink Pearl apples, which bring the light rose color. Double Mountain’s Irene Rose Red Fleshed Cider is a lightly tart cider, with delicate aromas of citrus and raspberry.
Alpenfire Glow Rosé Hard Cider
6.8% ABV
Alpenfire Cider is based in the seaport town of Port Townsend, Washington. They are a family run, certified organic, estate cidery and orchard planted in 2003. They created this a single varietal rosé cider with Hidden Rose apples, a rare, dessert apple variety. The aroma is composed primarily of a luscious, ripe apple character. Amazing! On the palate expect a robustly built cider, sporting rich tannin, notes of caramel and a rich weightiness that is tamed by the sparkle. Not atypical cider by any means.
Funky Fauna Left On Dead
2.5% ABV
Funky Fauna Artisan Ales’ little Left On Dead saison is inspired by rosé wine and the French method of making Piquette with spent wine grapes. It’s tart with slight sweetness but mostly funky wild.
Anderson Valley Framboise Rose Gose
4.2% ABV
Developed as their take on a rosé in beer form, the brewers at Anderson Valley Brewing brought Framboise Rose Gose to life by adding rose hips to the boil and fresh raspberry puree at the end of fermentation. These additions result in a light ruby hued kettle-soured beer highlighted by subtle raspberry fruit notes that greet the nose and fall soft on the palate; tangy, hibiscus-like flavors that mingle with the salty tartness of gose to create a uniquely complex, pink, and refreshing drinking experience.
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
