Rosé Day Recs

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Rosé’s ubiquity in the last few years hasn’t made it any less delicious, but its newfound popularity means that there are an ever-increasing number of options vying for shelf-space in your local package store. National Rosé Day was on Saturday, June 8th, but it’s not too late to enjoy the pink drink — in fact, the season is just getting started! We’ve waded through the loud labels and marketing machinations to bring you a shortlist of blush wines worth shelling out for this summer. All you need to bring is the ice.

2018 Terrasses de Badasset “Sentier” Rose
(Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, FR)Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault
With its to-the-point, eye-catching blue label, this pink Provencal pour provides everything you want in a rosé and nothing you don’t. A blend of Grenache and Syrah bring some delicate fruit and spice to the party, and Cinsault rounds things out with a cool limestone finish. The vines have been growing organically since the ‘90s, which means you can drink guilt- and chemical-free knowing your wine was raised sustainably by people who care about the ground it came out of. Best of all, this wine is a steal at only $15, so pack a couple for your next picnic.

 

2018 Commanderie de Peyrassol Rose (Cotes de Provence, FR)
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvèdre
Another Provence pick, this workhorse rosé is one of those reliable bottles that’ll never go amiss in the fridge door. Mourvedre gives the lightly fruity wine a little heft (but not too much), meaning it’s just as ready to pair with dinner as it is for chilling on the patio. $25 will land you a bottle of this tinted tincture—you’ll want to buy it by the case.

 

2018 Portlandia Rose (Willamette Valley, OR)
Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Hipsters rejoice: this delightfully-named Willamette Valley vino will put you in the mood for vintage and vinyl while you’re sipping it out of cutesy mason jars outside this summer. This bottle proves that not all good pink wine is from Provence, packing fun summer flavor like watermelon and berry into an elegant package with a firm backbone and great acidity. At under $20, you’ll still be able to afford an avocado toast on the side.

 

2018 Bridge Lane Wine Rose (Mattituck, NY) 750ml
“East Coast wine” is still a phrase people are getting used to, but there’s plenty of exciting juice coming out of New York these days, and this rosé is another great example. Arriving at your mouth by both screw-top bottle and convenient can, there’s no more convenient way to rosé your summer away. With a tropical fruit bouquet and a slightly orange hue, this is the ideal wine to pair with your beach-read and umbrella.

These wines should be easy to find, but if you want to skip the trip to the store, they’re all available (along with lots more) via The Urban Grape’s online store

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