Most of us associate rosé with summer, but with the summer season in the rearview mirror, it begs the question: can I keep drinking my favorite rosé wines? Even though it’s time to embrace fall and your favorite holidays like Thanksgiving, National Zinfandel Day, Halloween, and Merlot Month, we’ll be keeping pours of pink wine flowing.
And while this will certainly be a holiday season for the record books, your wine-drinking life should bask in the usual and normal with wholly acceptable larger-than-normal pours.
While you may be excited to pull out those full-bodied reds from your cellar, don’t retire your rosés just yet. Consider that rosé is not only the perfect aperitif, it also offers the kind of vibrant acid lift that makes it extremely food-friendly—a palate cleanser after each and every bite. So, even though the sun sets earlier and the heatwaves are (hopefully) long gone, rosé is just as good in colder weather as it is in hot weather.
Here’s a list of our eight favorite rosés to enjoy now and throughout the fall season.
2019 Banshee Rosé, Mendocino County
For under $30, the 2019 Banshee Rosé should be one of your go-to rosés this season. Earning an impressive 91 points from Wine Spectator, this rosé has bright flavors of “juicy cantaloupe and honeydew melon”, highlighted by “a touch of Meyer lemon.” The lively acidity in this delectable, crisp rosé pairs effortlessly with seasonal fish and salads, but is also a perfect partner to fall barbecues.
2019 The Four Graces Rosé of Pinot, Dundee Hills
It’s no secret that pinot noir and the Thanksgiving turkey are a classic pairing, but what if your guests prefer pink and white to red? Wow them with the 2019 Four Graces Rosé of Pinot Noir. This wine displays classic influences of the pinot noir grape with aromatics of fresh picked strawberries while dazzling with nuances of Meyer lemon and soft minerality followed by notes of crème fraîche developed by aging in French oak.
2019 Ferrari-Carano Dry Sangiovese Rosé, Sonoma County
New to the portfolio (and the FFWS website) is Ferrari-Carano which makes a stunning Dry Sangiovese Rosé on top of their iconic Chardonnay and Fumé Blanc. This Rosé, with its characteristics of fresh-picked strawberries, Maraschino cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, and a subtle touch of blood orange, is an ideal choice for pairing with a wide variety of food. Try matching this wine with Moroccan couscous, melon, and prosciutto, or fresh cheeses (chèvre, goat, and brie).
2019 Kuleto Estate Rosato, Napa Valley
A fun wine holiday that lands smack in the middle of the fall season is National Zinfandel Day on November 18, 2020, and is widely celebrated by red Zinfandel enthusiasts everywhere, but it’s also an excellent day to try something new and pop open a bottle of Zinfandel Rosé. While the composition of the varieties used in the Kuleto Rosato varies year to year, for the 2019 vintage, winemaker Gio Verdejo (also winemaker at Foley Johnson), went with 100% Zinfandel. With flavors of Granny Smith apples, sweetened grapes, and orange blossoms, this wine is fantastic to drink on its own or to pair with those extra Starburst candies you’ve collected from Halloween.
2019 Sebastiani Rosé, Carneros
Known for its cool, foggy climate, the Carneros appellation is an ideal location for growing Pinot Noir. Made with 100% Pinot Noir grapes from this AVA, the 2019 Sebastiani Rosé displays fragrant aromas of freshly-picked strawberries, melon, and delicate rose petals. To preserve the distinct characteristics of the variety, this wine was aged 100% in stainless steel with the intent of creating a fresh, crisp rosé ready to be sipped solo or with charcuterie.
2017 Chalone Vineyard Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir, Chalone AVA
On those warmer fall evenings, uncork a bottle of the Chalone Vineyard Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir and sip away while watching the autumn sunsets. The 2017 rosé offers a gorgeous bouquet of juicy watermelon and raspberries while enticing flavors of strawberries, minerality, and a hint of zesty lime linger on the palate.
2019 Foley Johnson Rosé, Rutherford, Napa Valley
Fortunately for wine lovers and fall fanatics alike, October is deemed as Merlot Month, which makes it perfect for enjoying Merlots that you’ve been saving in your cellar for a rainy day (quite literally); however, if you’re like us, you’ll see that as an excuse to crack open a bottle of rosé made with Merlot grapes. The 2019 Foley Johnson Rosé is made from 86% Merlot and 14% Zinfandel. While it is a dry style of wine, the Zinfandel adds spice flavors and sweet strawberry notes to balance out the fleshy, plum-like quality from the Merlot. >> BUY NOW 2019 Firestone Vineyard Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley The 2019 Firestone Vineyard Rosé is a show-stopping Merlot-dominant blend, aged entirely in stainless steel, delivering fresh, vibrant flavors of red cherries, lemon zest, roses, and Mandevilla flowers (reminiscent of a gardenia) followed by a lovely, bright acidity that pairs wonderfully with turkey sandwiches topped with Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.
2019 Firestone Vineyard Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley
The 2019 Firestone Vineyard Rosé is a show-stopping Merlot-dominant blend, aged entirely in stainless steel, delivering fresh, vibrant flavors of red cherries, lemon zest, roses, and Mandevilla flowers (reminiscent of a gardenia) followed by a lovely, bright acidity that pairs wonderfully with turkey sandwiches topped with Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.
