When Rosé is mentioned, most people likely think of Provence. That's probably because Provence is recognised as the birthplace of Rosé wine and new varieties are still compared to those created in the South of France. Let's find out more about the world's favourite pink drink and the day it's celebrated across the globe - National Rosé Day.
National Rosé Day
When is National Rosé Day celebrated?
Celebrated by some on the second Saturday in June, and others on 14 August each year, Rosé day is a fun day on the calendar whether you celebrate it in June or August. Some even say that it's the whole month of August that we should be celebrating, so I'll leave this one up to you!
There's even an official hashtag to use if you want to share your pink bubbly photos - #NationalRoséDay
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What to do on National Rosé Day
Well, that seems easy enough... pour a glass of Rosé for yourself and friends as you enjoy a picnic or meal at home. Add crusty baguettes, cheese and fresh summer fruits and you've got the perfect way to celebrate the bubbly pink beverage that we treasure and adore. Add a sunset, preferably on the Côte d'Azur, and you've got the ingredients to create a magical National Rosé Day!
In years past to celebrate this day, the Eiffel Tower has been 'dressed' in pink, the Saint Tropez Citadel has been alight in pink and fountains in Grasse have flowed with pink water. Even the Albert II of Monaco Foundation has embraced the occasion with the Prince's Palace, the city's museums and the Grimaldi Forum turning pink.
How is Rosé Wine Made?
There is a common misconception that Rosé is made with a combination of red and white grapes. Whilst this isn't common practice any more, it isn't exactly wrong and dates back to the origins of Rosé winemaking. Rosé is not actually a grape varietal but rather it is a winemaking style, so let's look into the history of making Rosé wine.
History of Rosé Wine
Pink, summery and chilled, Rosé may be the oldest type of wine as it dates back to around 600BC when the Phoenicians brought grapes vines to Massalia (modern day Marseille, France). Ancient winemaking involved the use of both red and white wine grapes quickly after harvest with pressing by hand, feet or even sack cloth. The resulting juice was only lightly pigmented due to the short maceration time. The Romans when they arrived in Provence liked the pink wine and facilitated its spread around the Mediterranean via their trading routes. Due to this strong history of Rosé in the South of France, the region is still considered the epicentre of Rosé and new variations are often compared to those of Provence.
It's not recorded however when the first wine labeled as a Rosé was produced. The lighter wines were still preferred to be made by winemakers even after the development of more efficient wine presses, as the fruitier, softer wines were considered to be more desirable. The harder pressing and darker, heartier wines were thought to be too harsh. This was the case from early Greek and Roman times to well into the Medieval Ages.
It wasn't until the Middle Ages that newer winemaking techniques started to gain popularity to make Rosé and other pink wines.
Coming forward to modern times, the production of Rosé skyrocketed shortly after the end of World War II when two Portuguese families released their Rosé. It was a sweet, slightly sparkling wine and was loved by the European and American markets. Since then, our modern Rosés have become lighter and more delicate in flavour (harping back to ancient style Rosé). Rosé is now produced in other regions of France as well as around the world so it's an easy, affordable and popular choice for many wine lovers.
The world's love of the summery pink drink doesn't seem to be slowing down, and that may be because of its versatility for food pairings - as American born 'French chef' Julia Child so aptly said.
Rosé can be served with anything! - Julia Child
Happy National Rosé Day!!
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