The Beauty of Rosé Wine - Understanding Brut Rosé

Quintessentially thought of as the wine behind all of the best girls’ nights out, rosé wine continues to grow in popularity across all demographics with each passing year. Despite its pink color, it’s no longer just the wine of The Bachelor watch parties and birthday celebrations — rosé wine has made a name for itself among wine aficionados, and deserves a place in everyone’s wine cabinet.

But while rosé has become a staple in the wine world, many people are completely unaware of the fact that there are a number of different styles and varieties of rosé wine to enjoy.

One of our favorites? Brut Rosé, a crisp, bubbly rosé wine that’s perfect for summer celebrations. Read on to learn more about this and other rosé wines!

What Is Rosé Wine?

Light and refreshing, Rosé is a wine that is pink in color — not a red wine or a white wine, but a class all its own. While many people are under the misconception that rosé is a wine crafted by simply mixing white and red wines together, this is not how authentic rosé is produced.

Instead, rosé is typically made through one of several processes — direct press, the Saignée method, or limited skin maceration. Each of these processes works to craft a beautiful wine with that trademark pink hue — which can range in color from being as light as a pale orange or gentle blush tone to being a deep magenta.

Each bottle of rosé is different, but these wines typically showcase fruit and floral notes. It’s often dry and acidic, and usually shouldn’t be served with dessert, as too much sugar can make it taste bitter.

What Is Brut Rosé?

Brut Rosé is a specific style of rosé — a sparkling wine that is dry instead of sweet. The term “brut” first originated in the world of French Champagne, but is now used to describe all forms of dry sparkling wine.

Brut Rosé is typically crafted with Pinot Noir grapes, but may feature other grapes as well, such as Chardonnay. It’s a crisp, fruit-driven wine that can showcase flavors like strawberry, raspberry, peach, honeydew melon, cherry, and citrus. It may also have floral aromas.

Our Wines: Rosé Wine vs Brut Rosé?

Here at Pangloss Cellars, we’re proud to offer both Rosé and Brut Rosé wines. Both wines hail from the North Coast, and are perfect for any summertime celebration.

Our Rosé is crisp and refreshing, a distinctly feminine still wine that’s effortlessly charming. It features vibrant fruit flavors, and is best enjoyed with a light chill.

Crafted in the classic Méthode Traditionnelle process of French Champagne, our Brut Rosé is a Pinot Noir-based sparkling wine. Fruit-driven without overwhelming the palate, it’s light, dry, and perfect for your next toast.

We’ll be honest — it was impossible for our team to pick a favorite between the two! These exceptional wines have completely won our hearts, so when asked to choose a bottle, we simply have one question: still or sparkling? You truly can’t go wrong either way.

Rosé Pairings

Rosé wines are often considered to be some of the most perfect wines to pair with food. Nearly anything can go well with rosé, as it brings the best characteristics of both red and white wines to the table. That being said, everyone has favorite pairings that they return to again and again. Here are a few of ours:

Salmon

It’s no secret that rosé pairs beautifully with a light seafood dish like salmon. The flavor of this meaty fish shines when met with a crisp, dry wine such as rosé — and likewise, the salmon is understated enough as to not overwhelm the flavor of the rosé. It’s the perfect pairing when choosing a main course for your next hosted dinner.

Spinach & Strawberry Feta Salad

Rosé is a classic summer wine, and nothing screams of golden summer evenings quite like a bright, refreshing salad. A spinach and strawberry feta salad is the perfect pairing option as it both complements the flavor of rosé while allowing the acidic wine to balance out the creaminess of the feta. Sweet and tart all at once, it’s an ideal pairing choice.

Grilled Burgers

Who says that rosé can only be paired with delicate dishes? In reality, rosé pairs surprisingly well with grilled burgers, the fresh, acidic wine meeting the rich, savory burger in a match made in heaven. Feel free to play around with your burger toppings to discover your favorite combination!

At Pangloss Cellars, we love to pair rosé with simple hors d'oeuvres. Check out this recipe for our Prosciutto Wrapped Fig Bites. They are sure to make your next get-together extra delicious.

Brut Rosé Wine Pairings

Wondering what to pair with a bottle of Brut Rosé? Here are a few of our favorite options.

Fried Chicken

It’s time to embrace your inner Southerner. You don’t often see fried foods at the top of wine pairing recommendations, but Brut Rosé is an ideal pairing to serve with a plate of fried chicken. The rich, indulgent flavors of the chicken are balanced perfectly with the bright acidity and fruit-driven notes of the Brut Rosé — comfort food at its finest.

Sushi

Sushi lovers might just find their perfect wine pairing in Brut Rosé. Rosé wines typically pair well with most seafood dishes, and the fresh complexity of Brut Rosé works well with your favorite sushi platters thanks to the high acidity and notes of floral and fruit. Pop open a bottle the next time you’re enjoying a California roll!

French Fries

Truly in the mood to treat yourself? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of Brut Rosé and french fries. The freshness of the Brut Rosé is an ideal match to balance out the saltiness of the fries. The wine can even stand up to heavier flavors, so if you like to season your fries with garlic salt or cayenne pepper, bring it on!

FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Rosé

Ready to open up a bottle of rosé for your next gathering? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions about this exceptional wine.

What is the biggest difference between Rosé and Brut Rosé?

Brut Rosé is a sparkling wine, while Rosé is a still wine unless otherwise noted.

How should rosé wines be served?

It's important to allow your rosé to be slightly chilled before serving. Whether you put it in the fridge for a few hours or stick it in an ice bucket, letting the bottle chill for a period of time is key to having the best wine drinking experience.

Is rosé made from red wine grapes?

Yes, rosé and Brut Rosé are crafted from red grapes. While many believe that rosé is simply white wine that has had red wine added, in reality, there are a number of different processes that can be used to make rosé, including the direct press method and the limited skin maceration method.

Experience the Beauty of Our Rosé Wines at Pangloss Cellars

To experience some of the finest Rosé and Brut Rosé in Sonoma, visit us at Pangloss Cellars. Located right in the heart of the Sonoma Plaza, our tasting lounge welcomes you to enjoy our world-class Rosé and Brut Rosé wines.

Make your reservation today — we look forward to seeing you soon.