Spring
into
Sparkling
Rosé Wine
Spring is a time of colorful rebirth and the ceremonial shaking off of the dull winter blues. All around the world during springtime, flowers begin to bloom, and people emerge from winter hibernation in search of sunshine and a lighter wardrobe. Luckily for us in South Florida, we have the luxury of just continuing what we’ve been doing--enjoying our beautiful weather outside with a little less humidity.
There are a few things we can do to celebrate spring with the rest of the country here in Coral Gables, aside from lounging at one of our charming street-side restaurants with outdoor seating (Looking at you, Giralda!). One of those things is to pop open bottles of bubbly… pink bubbly, that is. What could be more refreshing than indulging in a bottle of refreshingly crisp rosé while enjoying one of the best times of the year to dine alfresco in South Florida? How about adding some bubbles to your wine? Sparkling wine is one of the most alluring types of wine, and one that rarely disappoints in a crowd. Often a style of wine that is associated with celebrations, sparkling wine has become increasingly more popular as an everyday drink as more and more producers are incorporating economical approaches to bubbly production. Champagne still reigns, but you can easily find pink bubbly from other regions that is just as crisp and delightful for any springtime rooftop party or outdoor picnic. As you enjoy the bright vibrant colors and social activities in our City Beautiful and surrounding area this time of year, I hope you will take a moment to support our local restaurants, and spring into a sparkling rosé! Here are a few suggestions to get you started. Our friends over at Uvaggio on Miracle Mile and No Name Chinese in South Miami offer a couple of sparkling rosés from non-traditional locations on their wine list, and sommeliers Heath Porter and Daniel Rosenstrauch, can help guide you through which one will pair best with your spicy Asian brunch. Look for the Los Bermejos, Rosado Brut Nature from Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, found at both restaurants, or the Hush Heath Estate, 'Balfour 1503' Dry Rosé from Kent, England at No Name. Ask for a glass of the Jansz sparkling rosé from Tasmania next time you’re in Uvaggio, made in the exclusive Méthode Tasmanoise, which is actually just the traditional method with a Tasmania twist! For something more traditional from one of the few family-owned Champagne houses left in the Reims region of Champagne, France, look for the Champagne Taittinger Prestige Rosé on the menu next time you’re dining at The Biltmore Hotel or Zucca restaurant in Hotel St. Michel. This lively pink Champagne offers a full-bodied bubbly with a refreshingly crisp red raspberry and cherry flavor palate. Enjoy with caviar, or simply with good company. If you’re looking for a sparkling rosé to sip at home with friends, consider picking up a bottle of Domaine Bousquet Rosé Brut for about $13 from our local Coral Gables Whole Foods. This bottle of bubbles from Argentina is a 75/25 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and has a slightly fuller body than the more predominantly Chardonnay Brut from the same winery. Light aromas of red berries give way to a crisp fruit-forward bubbly delight on your tongue. I recommend this wine for any Springtime backyard bash. Hope you pop some pink bottles this spring! Cheers!
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Jacqueline Coleman is a certified Sommelier and 4th generation Miamian, born and raised in Coral Gables. You can find her musings about the “wine lifestyle” on her blog, History & Wine (historyandwine.com), or follow her on Twitter @HistoryandWine.