WINE PICKS
compiled by the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center

While we at San Joaquin magazine love a glass of sweet, pink wine this time of year, did you know that not all so-called pink wine is sweet? The popularity of white Zinfandel, made from Lodi’s famous grapes, has led many consumers to believe that if a wine has a blush of color, it’s automatically sweet. Not so. This month’s selection of blush-colored wines is, for the most part, dry with good acidity, and in a sense, more “wine-like.”

Whether produced from a single red grape variety or a blend of several red grape varieties, these wines are great for sipping slightly chilled on a warm summer night. Or, pour them as dinner wines served at cellar temperature (58 degrees) with everything from roasted vegetables to pastas and grilled meats .

Dry Rosé, known as “rosato,” has been popular for years in the Mediterranean wine drinking countries, and is just now gaining interest here in the states. So grab a glass and your lounge chair by the pool, and pour one of these locally-made “pink wines.” You won’t be disappointed.

2007 Pasos Vineyards - Charbono Dry Rosé  This wine is brilliantly clear and has a pretty, light watermelon red color. Aromas of strawberry, mixed fruit, and melon compliment flavors of tart red berries. After a good sip, the wine finishes with a lingering strawberry/berry aftertaste. Try this wine with fresh scallops, pasta, or as a refreshing sipping wine on evenings when the mercury is still hovering just below one hundred.($16) www.pasoswines.com

2007 Michael-David - Incognito Pink Wine  Old Vine Cinsault, Grenache, and Mourvedre grape varieties are regularly used in this Rhone-style pink wine. Incognito is clear, with a pinkish-red color. Citrus, watermelon, and strawberry aromas, complimented by tart berry and strawberry flavors lead to a finish of soft tannin and tart berries. Pastas, grilled meats and vegetables, and mild barbeque work well with this medium-bodied pink wine. In addition, Incognito is also perfect chilled as a sipping wine.($14) www.lodivineyards.com

2007 Vino Con Brio – Passione Rosé  This blend of Sangiovese and Petite Sirah is light red with shades of pink. Passione Rosé has aromas of strawberry, guava, dark berries, and vanilla, complimented by a hint of sweetness—flavors of strawberry, berry, and watermelon. Passione Rosé is structured enough to serve with pastas of all kinds, as well as grilled meats and vegetables, but be sure to chill well for a summertime sipper. We can taste the roasted eggplant now.($14) www.vinoconbrio.com

Harmony Wynelands-  Rosé Table Wine The Harmony Wynelands Rosé is a blend of Zinfandel, Grenache, and Mourvedre. When it all comes together, it produces a pretty, pale pink color. Aromas of berry, strawberry, and watermelon are complimented by a hint of sweetness, berry and cranberry flavors. The finish is rich and filled with almost as much sweet fruit as that fresh summer salad you’re craving right about now. A wonderful sipping wine chilled, this wine is also a perfect accompaniment to grilled foods of all kinds.($16) www.harmonywynelands.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Lodi Wine and Visitor Center, and taste from a selection of over two hundred award-winning Lodi wines. 2545 W. Turner Rd., Lodi, (209) 367-4727, www.lodiwine.com

**SOURCE
Michael Perry, Lodi Wine & Visitor Center, 365-0621