Knowing your way with rose wines

Rose wines have become favorites for Valentine's Day dinner pairings. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The delicate color of rose wines have made them favorites for Valentine's Day dinner pairings.

The pink hue can range from a pale "onion-skin" orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grape varietals used and the wine-making techniques. There are several ways to produce rose wine, including skin contact and blending. Wineries that focus on rose production use the skin-contact method: Black-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, up to three days. Rose wines are made from a wide variety of grapes and can be found all around the globe. They may be still, semi-sparkling or sparkling.

China Daily asked wine consultant Vance Yeang of Global Fine Wines in Shanghai to recommend moderately priced options in different styles－sweet, aromatic dry and dry－for romantic sipping.

"I've recommended three different rose wines from less-known regions, but these wineries produce good quality wines," he says.

Sweet:

Brown Brothers Moscato Rosa (145 yuan or $21)

Established in 1889, Brown Brothers is a highly successful and innovative family-owned winery from Victoria, Australia.

Rose-petal and red-berry aromas along with freshly crushed grapes and a spicy perfume dominate the nose. These characters follow through to the palate along with a fruitiness that is balanced by acidity and spritz.

Aromatic Dry:

Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rose (180 yuan)

Kanonkop Estate has been producing some of South Africa's most premium wines. It has accumulated international awards for over more than a decade.

Delicate aromas of cherry and strawberry lead the nose and carry through onto the palate with a bit more intensity. Flavors of red cherry and plum skin stay through the finish.

Dry:

Masi Rosa dei Masi (201 yuan)

Masi produces modern, pleasant, well-balanced and recognizable Italian wines that have earned recognition for having "revolutionized the art of wine-making in the Veneto".

A beautiful, clear, light-coral rose with spiced raspberry aromas. The palate gives a herbal hint of raspberries, refreshing and not too sweet. It's crisp and mouth-filling with a herbal red-berry finish.