We’ve been pushing Rosé on our customers for the last few weeks. The response we’re getting is awesome and, predictably, one of happy surprise. Initially, many of you think that these wines are going to be sweet. No doubt that this is a hold-over conception from the peak of White Zin’s popularity. C’mon, you know us better than that! These are bone-dry, crisp and absolutely delicious. And they are all hand-crafted for entertaining in the summer heat. They range from simple and easy-drinking to complex and deeply stunning. So, given that the big White Zin cliché is still working its dark magic in the subconscious of the American consumer, we’ve made it our unofficial summer mission to convert as many of you as possible to the ways of real Rosé. Prepare yourselves for a summer of Rosé adoration!

First up, we’re going to get you into the crisp, easy-drinking wines. We’ll start out with a bottle of the “Tradition” from Chateau St. Martin de la Garrigue. This little number from the Languedoc sports an enticing nose – generous strawberry and watermelon aromatics whip out of the glass. Your first sip will tell you that it does an admirable job as a summer thirst-quencher. Your second will show you that there’s much more going on in the glass. After you get past the initial strawberry/watermelon impression, you’ll start to taste a little zesty spice and bits of lemon rind. The almost-bracing, but perfectly integrated acid will get you salivating. This is one juicy wine. And it’s well suited for all kinds of fun summer food. I’m particularly into pairing it with a simple endive and avocado salad, lightly dressed with a crisp white-balsamic vinaigrette. It’s also pretty wonderful with a pile of grilled shrimp skewers.

We can be greedy little wine merchants. When we find something we love, we like to snap it all up for our customers. Every bottle of the St. Martin Rosé that made its way into Vermont is either in our store, or in your glass. You won’t find this anywhere else in the state.

Chateau St. Martin de la Garrigue “Tradition” 2008 — $12.99
Next week, we’ll show you a gripping Austrian Rosé. You’ll be hooked before you know it.