Think Pink with Vinho Verde Rosé!

I married in to a Portuguese family. Which is awesome. The Portuguese have a rich and very tasty culinary tradition. Sopas, sweet bread, linguiça and Vinho Verde are all wonderful things I’ve discovered since marrying my husband.

Vinho Verde is one of “the other” Portuguese wines. Everyone has heard of Port, but few have tasted this refreshing white wine from nothern Portugal. It’s a shame. Not only are many brands really good, but Vinho Verde is always very affordable. It’s rare to see a bottle over $10.00.

Vinho Verde is typically a white wine made from grapes grown in the Minho region in Portugal. Vinho Verde literally translates to “green wine.” This is in reference to the wine’s age (young) not the wine’s color. Vinho Verde is a slightly fizzy wine that usually has a fair amount of acidity. It’s served chilled.

You can imagine my delight when I came across this Casal Garcia version of Vinho Verde. It’s a different type of Vinho Verde in that it’s a Rosé.

Casal Garcia Rosé Vinho Verde is a slightly effervescent wine with hints of strawberry in the aroma. My first sip tasted of juicy pink grapefruit with a bit of strawberry in the finish. This wine does have a touch of residual sugar, but it’s by no means sweet. It has a nice acidity and would pair nicely with lighter summer meals. I could see myself enjoying this on it’s own, as well.

Rosé wines have a bad reputation. I’m not quite sure why, but people still tend to think of White Zinfandel when they think of Rosés. As you've just read, White Zin isn’t the only Rosé out there. There are many great examples of dry Rosé on the market these days. A good dry Rosé is very good on a hot summer evening and this Rosé is no exception. 

If you are looking for a good summer wine, don’t be afraid to “think pink” and pick up a Rosé.