Tag: Wine

9 Places to Bring Rosé This Summer

Once temperatures start climbing into the 80s, you know it’s time for two things: backyard barbecues and rosé wine. Sure, its pink coloring may have helped it get on millennials’ good side at first, but rosé is beloved by people from all generations. Whether it’s paired with a beautiful charcuterie board or sweet chocolate-covered berries (heck, even cookies!), rosé is easy to sip during any occasion.

With warm weather finally here, we’ve rounded up the best places to bring rosé all summer long.

1. Barbecues

Man cooking meat and vegetables on barbecue grill outdoors

Don’t let its looks fool you — rosé pairs well with even the most heavily seasoned, hearty cuts of meat. Whether you’re serving steak, chicken, or burgers and dogs, make sure you’ve got a few bottles of rosé in the cooler to pair with the meal at your backyard party.

2. Parks

Forget the beer, even if it is one of those microbrews made with 1,000-year-old yeast and ghost peppers — this summer it’s all about rosé! Whether you’re heading to the park to throw a Frisbee around with friends (frolf, anyone?) or enjoy a good book under a shady tree, make sure you always have something cold and refreshing within reach. Remember to also bring the sunscreen.

3. BYOB restaurants

A fantastic way to enjoy your favorite bottle of wine, while saving money eating out, is to bring your own. Grab your fave rosé from home and tote it to the restaurant with you or ask the shopkeeper to recommend one based on where you’re dining. Or just order this bottle. It only won the silver medal at the 2022 Oregon Wine Awards.

4. Picnics

Photo of happy young three women drinking red wine while having

Picnics have evolved from your classic checkerboard blankets and cold sandwiches. Nowadays, planning a picnic is an art form, but it doesn’t have to be an overly complex one. Elevate lunch with your schmoopy by packing a lightweight rosé, fruits and cheeses, and chocolates for dessert in a traditional wicker basket.

5. Graduation parties

After four years of group projects, papers, and tests, it’s finally time to call yourself (or the person you love) a college graduate. Whether you’re hosting or attending a graduation party this summer, don’t forget to add rosé to the beverage list. Also on your list of necessities? Flowers for the happy grad and plenty of ice cream to keep guests cool.

MORE: Wine and Flower Pairings

6. Brunch

Ending the weekend with brunch is the best way to take advantage of every minute of the warm weather. With summer fruits soon reaching their peak ripeness, there’s no better drink to pair with citrusy fruit and summer sun than rosé.

7. On the boat

friend’s girl having party on sailing boat and drinking wine t

If you own a boat, or are lucky enough to be friends with someone who does, let us be the first to say that you’re going to have an amazing summer. Now the only thing left to do (in addition to inviting us) is stock your floating fridge to the brim with rosé and a few of your favorite snacks to pair with it.

8. Summer night in

Don’t get us wrong, we love summer nights out. But sometimes a jam-packed restaurant without (or with too much) air conditioning doesn’t make for the most relaxing experience. Kick back with your best friends in the cool comfort of your home, on your terrace, or even by setting up a few chairs in your driveway. If you don’t have the privilege of AC, position a few fans around the house to add a cool breeze throughout the evening. Best of all, refills in your living room are always free!

9. All the parties

Come to think of it, there are very few places to bring rosé that won’t go over well. From bachelorette parties to baby showers and engagement parties, rosé is a perennial crowd pleaser.

How to Create a Rose-Themed Summer Charcuterie Board

Follow along with these steps from Ramona Cruz-Peters of Fab Everyday to create a wine and roses charcuterie board perfect for summer entertaining.

My two favorite things about the summer are the longer days and all the beautiful roses in bloom. This is what inspired me to create a simple but lovely “Days of Wine and Roses”-themed charcuterie board for summer entertaining.

With just a few steps and a meat and cheese basket, you too can make this swoon-worthy spread.

Step 1: Create salami roses and rosettes

To make salami roses, fold a piece of salami over the rim of a champagne flute. If you don’t have a champagne flute, you can use a regular glass; I recommend one with a narrow mouth so the salami roses don’t end up too big. Repeat the process with more salami, overlapping as you work your way around the glass.

Photo of charcuterie board with aalami on board

When the ring of folded salami feels tight, invert your glass over the charcuterie board and slide the glass out of the salami rose. Herb leaves like sage can be strategically placed with the roses to bring the floral theme to life.

After creating 2-3 large salami roses, you can create mini rosettes by folding salami pieces in half, and then rolling a few of them together and securing them with toothpicks. I like to place the rosettes next to the larger salami roses to make it look like a group of rosebuds.

Step 2: Add cheese to the board

Next, add a few different cheeses, such as an aged Asiago and a nutty Gruyère, to your charcuterie board. Offering a variety of cheeses accommodates different guests’ preferences and provides options for mixing and matching flavors.

Continuing with the floral theme, I sliced the wedge of Asiago into long triangles to mimic petals and placed them in the middle of the board. I cut the Gruyère into cubes and placed them at the corners of the board to provide visual contrast with the circular salami roses.

Step 3: Incorporate your antipasto

Photo of charcuterie board with charcuterie boards

Who said you shouldn’t play with your food? Displaying the antipasto should be fun! I arranged some of the roasted peppers with garlic and garlic-stuffed olives into floral shapes in small ramekins before adding them to the charcuterie board.

Step 4: Fill the extra space with nuts and fresh herbs

Finally, fill in the open spaces on the board with mixed nuts and more fresh herbs like rosemary in addition to the sage leaves.

Step 5: Cheers!

Photo of charcuterie board with wine and charcuterie board

Now it’s ready to party! Serve the charcuterie board with water crackers and baguette crisps for your guests to eat with the meat and cheeses, plus an assortment of red and white wines. If you have a wide variety of wine and cheeses, you could even suggest different pairings for guests to experiment with. For a final touch, I like to set out the charcuterie board with roses or rose petals to pull together the floral theme.

ad for national rose month

Sparkling Strawberry Rosé Cocktail

This sparkling strawberry rosé cocktail created by Lauren Grier from The Curious Plate comprises just a few simple ingredients for the perfect warm-weather beverage.

With the weather finally warming up, this rosé lemon spritzer is a delightful addition to any brunch, lunch, or dinner spread. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate spring occasions than with a pretty pink cocktail in hand.

a photo of Rosé Cocktail with a bottle of pinot noir rosé wine and pink and white roses
a photo of Rosé Cocktail with a bottle of wine and pink and white roses

This rosé cocktail is made with fresh lemon, strawberries, mint, and simple syrup, but what makes it stand out is the addition of Harry & David Rosé. This rosé wine is light, with subtle hints of watermelon, making it the perfect refreshing drink to sip on a warm day.

Kick off your shoes, relax in the sunshine, and serve up a glass of rosé lemon spritzer.

a photo of a rose cocktail
Print Pin

Sparkling Lemon and Rosé Cocktail Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 drinks

Ingredients:

Instructions: 

  • Place two strawberry halves and one lemon wheel on the bottom of each cocktail glass.
  • Muddle the strawberry and lemon wheel together so the juices release.
  • Add 1/2 ounce of simple syrup and 3 ounces rosé wine to each glass.
  • Fill the glasses with ice and a splash of club soda.
  • Stir to combine. Garnish with fresh mint.
Course: Drinks
Woman with glass of rose

Top Wine and Flower Pairings

We all know that wine pairs wonderfully with chocolate, fruit, and a lot of other things that taste delicious. But have you ever thought about pairing wine with flowers? The scents, colors, and texture of certain flowers perfectly complement a bottle of wine. And, when combined, the two make a splendid, personalized housewarming, anniversary, or birthday gift.

wine and flower pairings with Bottle of Prosecco and two champagne glasses on a rustic garden picnic table with flowers in the background.
  • Blanc du Bois: Complement the delicate taste and yellow coloring of Blanc du Bois with a sunny bouquet of yellow daisies.
  • Cabernet sauvignon: These traditionally dark red bottles look beautiful alongside a bouquet of deep red roses. Or, contrast their saturated coloring with a bouquet of white roses.
  • Champagne: Known for their elegant nature, white lilies perfectly complement a sophisticated and celebratory glass of champagne.
  • Chardonnay: The exquisite shape of white orchids brings out the simple elegance of chardonnay.
  • Chenin blanc: Add a pop of color to this traditionally white wine by combining it with a mixed bouquet.
  • Merlot: For a truly show-stopping look, pair a dark red bottle of merlot with any of these popular black flowers.
  • Orange muscat: No choice is more perfect for orange muscat than dazzling orange lilies and roses.
  • Pinot noir: Match the red coloring of pinot noir with flowers of another complementary color, such as blue hydrangeas.
  • Port: Complement the deep red hues of this wine with poinsettias.
  • Riesling: Both classics, riesling and tulips are a timeless, effortless pairing.
  • Sauvignon blanc: White will always remain cool, crisp, and elegant. Match your favorite bottle of sauvignon blanc with an exquisite bouquet of white roses.
  • Syrah: Made from red grapes, this wine matches the intensity of deep red carnations beautifully.
  • Viognier: Dazzle viognier lovers with their favorite bottle and a bouquet of luminous sunflowers.
  • Zinfandel: An arrangement of mixed red flowers visually represents the many unique flavors of Zinfandel.

What Pairs Best with Rosé Wine?

Once the weather starts to warm up, rosé becomes a go-to drink for many oenophiles — and it’s easy to see why. Wine lovers like that it’s not as heavy as red wine but still packs enough punch to bring out the flavors of grilled meats.

If you’re planning a brunch, lunch, or dinner party this summer — and you really should! — make sure you have the best rosé wine and food pairings to make your gathering a smashing success.

rose wine and cheese with sausage and grapes outdoors

Making rosé wine

Contrary to popular belief, rosé isn’t a blend of white and red wine; rather, think of it as being one step away from red. To give red wine its bold color, winemakers add plenty of red grape skins to the batch. With rosé wine, they simply add fewer red skins or don’t allow juice to sit in the skins for as long.

The result is a wine with the body of a red wine but the crisp, refreshing nature of a white. Needless to say, it’s the best of both worlds.

5 different types of rosés

Most of us call any wine with a pink tint to it rosé. While that’s not technically wrong, it’s also not totally right. Just like red and white wine, there are dozens of different types of rosés you can enjoy. Depending on what you’re eating, some rosés will complement your meal better than others.

Light off-dry rosés

Like its name implies, a light off-dry rosé is best for lighter meals. Summer salads, rice dishes, and spiced curries pair well with very dry rosés.

Medium dry rosés

In addition to the foods that light, off-dry rosé pairs well with, medium dry rosé goes well with sweeter foods and desserts. Chocolate, fruit, cakes, and cookies have the perfect amount of sweetness to bring out the many flavors in dry rosés.

rose pairings with friends toasting at an outdoor meal

Fruity rosés

Fruity rosés tend to be more hit or miss with people — either you really love them or you really don’t. If you’re in the former group, consider yourself lucky, because fruity rosés (and fruity wines in general) go well with many different foods, including seafood (lobster, seared salmon, tuna), duck, lamb, and white cheeses, such as brie.

Full-bodied fruity rosés

Have you yet to find a food that’s too spicy for you? If so, you’ll love a full-bodied fruity rosé. With the body of a red and lightness of a white, these rosés go nicely with heavily seasoned Mexican or Indian food.

Sparkling rosé

As one of the most versatile sparkling wines, sparkling rosé tastes delicious with nearly every light appetizer and dessert on. If you’re pairing it with cheese and crackers, choose white cheeses, such as brie, and prosciutto. For dessert, try it with chocolate covered berries.

For the most part, any of the above-mentioned foods will go well with any glass of rosé. But, with our help, you can enjoy the best of the best pairings.

Now that your meal is perfect, don’t forget to decorate the table with rosé’s favorite flower — roses!

Exit mobile version