HOW IS ROSÉ WINE MADE?

Rosé Wine: A Summer Favorite

Rosé wine is highly appreciated during the summer months. Light and fruity, this type of wine is perfect for complementing all your summer meals, enhancing barbecues, and Mediterranean dishes.

Although rosé wine had a poor reputation for many years, it is now very popular and accounts for nearly a quarter of wine sales in France. Its production continues to increase. Discover how rosé wine is made and the various steps of its vinification in this article.

The Steps of Rosé Wine Vinification

Rosé de Saignée

There are several methods for making rosé wine, with the most common being the rosé de saignée. This method involves a short maceration of the grape skins and juice, similar to red wine production but for a much shorter time. Rosé de saignée wines typically have a deeper color and more intense aromas.

First, the winemaker separates the berries from the bunch and discards the stems. The berries are then crushed to release the juice. The berries, must, and juice are placed in a tank, where the color comes from the skins. Depending on the desired color, the maceration lasts between 8 to 48 hours. The juice is then separated from the skins.

Next, the juice is placed in a tank where suspended particles are removed. Fermentation begins, converting sugar into alcohol, and lasts about 10 days. The resulting wine is then transferred to a tank for aging, which lasts several weeks or months, depending on the cuvées and appellations. Finally, the wine is bottled.

Rosé de Pressurage

Rosé de pressurage is a newer technique for making rosé wine that produces very clear and lighter wines. In this process, the winemaker separates the berries from the bunch. During crushing, the berries are broken to release the juice, although this step is not always necessary for rosé de pressurage. The grapes are then pressed in stages, with increasing pressure depending on the desired color. Only the juice that drains out is collected. The skins and pulp hardly macerate with the juice, resulting in a light, pale wine with elegant aromas.

The next step is clarification. The juice is placed in a tank, and suspended particles are removed. Alcoholic fermentation occurs thanks to yeast, which converts sugar into alcohol. The wine is then aged to stabilize it, with a short aging period of a few weeks to a few months. Finally, the wine is bottled.

Which Grape Variety for Rosé Wine?

Rosé wine is made from red grape varieties. The color of rosé comes naturally from the grape skins. The most commonly used varieties for rosé are Grenache, Cinsault, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Rosé wines can be single-varietal or blends, depending on the appellations and estates.

Is Rosé Wine a Real Wine?

Yes, rosé wine is a real wine. It is made from one or more grape varieties and undergoes a shorter maceration than red wine to achieve its characteristic color. It is not possible to make rosé wine from white grapes alone; it is the skin of red grapes that gives the wine its color during production.

Can Red and White Wines Be Mixed to Make Rosé Wine?

In France, it is prohibited to produce rosé wine by directly mixing red and white wines. However, there is an exception for Champagne. Rosé Champagnes can be made by adding a small proportion (about 10%) of red wine to the white base during blending, which imparts color to the Champagne. Several Champagne houses also produce rosé Champagne using the saignée method.

On Avenue des Vins, we offer a wide selection of rosé wines for all your social gatherings. From rosés of Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence, Bordeaux châteaux, Corsica, and the Rhône Valley, these cuvées elevate your family meals. We also offer red, white wines, and Champagne from the best French appellations, regions, and estates to match all your food and wine pairings.