dry roses

You wouldn’t know it by the temperature of late, but fall is approaching and summer will be just a memory.  It’s been great for Rose sales where several red wine diehards have found a chilled and refreshing alternative to their favorite room temperature “go to” for most of the year.

So do we say farewell to the roses until next May and focus strictly on the reds? If many of us drink white wine all year as well as red, then why not rose?  In fact, think about food pairings where rose could be the perfect choice.  Thanksgiving could be a whole new experience for some folks.  Rose and turkey is a winner combination.

There are several roses we have to choose from that come from various parts of the world. Often they are blends but I would like to mention two particular favorites that are single varietal wines. Chateau De La Deidiere is a rose from Provence and is made from 100% Grenache grapes. This wine comes in a lovely curvaceous

Some may think it is stereotypical to pick a Rose for a blog entry for Mother’s Day.  I beg to differ. The Roses that I’m writing about may be a variation of a shade of pink, but that does not mean these wines are syrupy and one dimensional. Guys, if you are listening. Not all women like Pink Moscato or White Zinfandel anymore than all men like Budweiser or Jack Daniels. These Roses are dry (often like Moms’sense of humor) but refreshing and full of flavor.

Our May Double Up for a Buck event just began and we have two new Roses on the sale

One of my favorite restaurants in Hamburg is located in an unassuming house on Evans Street.  It’s called Cozy Thai cozythaihamburg.com  and it offers a delightful respite from the usual Western fare. The menu is large and versatile enough to intrigue carnivores, seafood lovers and vegetarians alike. Several enticing dishes with ingredients ranging from shrimp, pork, chicken, beef, eggplant, peanut sauce, basil leaves, bell peppers, bamboo, coconut, rice and hot pepper sauce make this a top of the list culinary adventure.

Fan the flame of hilarity with the wing of friendship, and pass the rosy wine.” -Charles Dickens

Admittedly my title for this blog may sound like an exaggeration and yes, it is.  But maybe not for the hot summer months. Roses are catching on in Western New York and we of course at Premier, have plenty of them. They are bold diplomats who answer the call of those looking for something different from the wave of Red Blends and Pinot Grigios regularly consumed.

Cinco de Mayo may be over, but there is still plenty to celebrate. It’s May, it’s warm and most importantly, Mother’s Day is Sunday. Last Mother’s Day, I mentioned the 2013 Dom De Paris Rose and how delicious it was. This year is no different for the new vintage as well as several other Roses. Here is a brief sampling of roses from different regions.

This past Monday, I sat on the screened in porch for the first time in several months – like 7 or so, and felt alive and nostalgic at the same time.  The breeze was very strong but warm and pleasant, nothing like the bitter winds we‘d been experiencing for so long.  I finally felt it. What I had been waiting for.  It’s porch sitting time again.  And what comes with porch sitting is porch sipping.

Last weekend I recommended the Rubus Cabernet Sauvignon to pair with filet mignon, hot dogs or hamburgers for your July 4^th picnic. For those of you who want something cooler, yet still dry and easy to pair with many summer foods; I recommend the Chateau Lamothe 2013 Bordeaux Rose.

This Sunday is Mother's Day and the weather is supposed to be glorious. Sunny and in the seventies, it has all the makings of great picnic weather. What better way to celebrate than to get outside and fire up the grill or pack up a variety of cold foods to enjoy at one of our wonderful parks in Western New York?

As far as wine is concerned, maybe it’s time to skip the usual suspects like asti or prosecco and opt for something a bit more unusual. A dry, yet fruity Rose could be just the ticket. The Dom de Paris Cotes de Provence 2013 Rose will do nicely.

First off, I always sweat a bit about St. Patrick’s Day wine pairings. Generally, I tend to think beer, particularly Guinness (I personally prefer Scotch Ale) lends itself more to the traditional foods of the day. But I LOVE wine and it is my duty to find a good match for the quintessential St. Patrick’s Day feast: Corned Beef and Cabbage.

I considered many choices from Syrahs and Zinfandels because of the peppery notes but I sense conflict. I thought Gewurztraminer because it would work well with cabbage and cut through the fat of the Corned Beef. Still, I felt I was missing something. Finally, I remembered tasting a Rose recently and thinking this is very delicious, balanced and bold enough to work with complex flavors. Why not with Corned Beef and Cabbage?

The 2012 Vitiano Rosato is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Aleatico. It has a gorgeous Pink Grapefruit hue. The notes are of fresh berries, particularly wild strawberries with a