Summertime is here, and with it, Rosé season. (Well, I drink it all year round, but traditionally, there is a season). Here are a couple that I am enjoying right now:

The first is 2020 Sylvain Miniot Saint-Pourçain rosé, imported by Mary Taylor, is 100% Gamay (a Rosé made from 100% Gamay was a first for me). My friend Andrea at Super Buyrite in West Deptford introduced this gem to me. Saint-Pourcain is located in Auvergne, in the Loire region of France. Saint-Pourcain was planted by the Romans, and enjoyed favor with the Bourbon kings.

This wine is aged on its lees for 5 months in stainless steel tanks. It’s light salmon in color, with aromas and flavors of peach, apricot, raspberries and rose petals, which continue on the palate. Crisp and delicious, but not watery, due to being aged on its lees. We enjoyed it paired with the New York Times’ carmelized lemon chicken, roast potatoes, and green salad with fennel. 13.5% ABV. $15 at West Deptford Super Buyrite.

The second is the 2021 Firriato Le Sabbie Dell’Etna rosé, from the Etna DOC in Sicily. This wine is 100% Rosé of Nerello Mascalese. I’ve had the delicious red wine version of this wine, but this was another varietal rosé first for me. Grapes are hand- picked from the northern slopes of Mt. Etna, lightly pressed and then pellicular-macerated for a few hours, before being fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks for three months on its lees.

Pellicular maceration involves macerating the grapes (letting the grape juice and skins hang out together) at a low temperature away from air exposure, in order to activate the first aromas right before letting fermentation begin.

This wine is light pink in color, with aromas and flavors of raspberry and pomegranate, which continue on the palate, with hints of minerality from the volcanic soils on the longer finish. 12% ABV. $18 at West Deptford Buyrite on online at Vivino.

Enjoy the rose weather! Cin-cin!