How to Pair Rosé Wines

Most wine snobs despise rosés. Wine drinkers on the other hand have learned to embrace the fruity notes which fill your mouth with joy.

Thanks to rosé’s light flavor, it’s the ideal wine for afternoon events, summer picnics and barbecues. Rosé wines pair well with spicy food, white meats and light meals. Some are semi sweet but it seems as if most producers are steering towards dry rosés. Before you buy a rosé wine it’s important to establish the type of rosé your palate will favour. Is that particular bottle of rosé dry, off-dry or sweet? Rosé wines are made from the same type of grapes as red wine so, before matching it to food, check the varietal and if it’s a light, medium or full bodied wine.

Rosé with cheese

Pair a sweet rosé with goats cheese. This will open up a light rosé and expose its subtle yet complex flavours. Serve your sweet rosé and cheese with water crackers or some slices of mildly flavoured bread. Add a few summer berries for colour and flavour.

Match brighter, drier rosé wines with hard Italian cheeses such as Parmesan, Asiago or Reggiano. The heartier once also go well with bruschetta, flavourful olive oils and Mediterranean appetizers.

Rosé with chicken

Pair a light, fruity rosé with grilled or roasted poultry, just as you would a white wine. Light rosé wines go especially well with fruit-flavoured poultry dishes such as chicken teriyaki or lemon chicken. You can also pair a light rosé with barbecued chicken.

Rosé with curry

Serve dark, dry rosé wine with spicy curried dishes. Normally, most people drink beer with Indian or Thai curries because they don’t match well with red or white wines. If you’re not a beer drinker, give rosé a try with these fiery dishes.

Rosé with eggs

Rosé with breakfast? Why not! Any type of rosé works great with egg dishes. It’s the ideal partner for brunches or afternoon parties since it pairs well with quiche, frittata and omelets. Both dark and light rosé wines works well with eggy dishes, so match the rosé to the cheese in your dish.

Rosé Recommendation

Looking for a rosé to match at your next party? Try the Lindsay’s Whimsy Shiraz Rosé 2010 from Slaley Wines outside Stellenbosch. The spicy characters of the shiraz works great with food and the price is hard to beat at R45 a bottle. It’s not to sweet and not to dry. It’s the type of wine that can be enjoyed with or without food…it’s that nice!