Real men drink pink
Mumm Napa / Graham Beck / Riondo Raboso / Billecart-Salmon / Henriot
So yeah, I’m being a tad lazy today. The majority of this note comes from a “note” on Facebook that I wrote up yesterday. It was much quicker than actually creating a post, but I feel I need to polish and edit it a bit, so I’m putting that version up here today. It is slightly different than the note. Hope you enjoy my list of recommended pink bubblies to enjoy with your significant other this upcoming Valentine’s Day.
First off, drink what you like every day! Life is too short to drink plonk (like that Budweiser 55…gimme a break) or something because you are SUPPOSED to. Pu-shaw I say.
My wife and I have our own tradition, which is to drink rosé Champagne on Valentine’s Day and have it with sushi. We dine in, not wanting to deal with crowds, overbooked tables, lousy service, a hurried kitchen and the noise. Granted, many restaurants do a fine job, but it just isn’t our thing. This year we may add a new twist, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.
So, I’ll give you my personal suggestions for pink bubbly, with a few choice items in various price ranges.
$20 and under:
- Gruet: pink bubbly from New Mexico that is soft and juicy, and it is very pink.
- Graham Beck: from South Africa, this is a delight, but more similar to Champagne than the Gruet, so a bit on the drier and more mineral driven side than overly fruity.
- Riondo Pink: from Italy, this rather well known producer of Prosecco recently introduced a pink bubbly that is quite good and is available at your local Whole Foods. A great selection for those who like softer wines.
- Mumm Napa: from California, this is a fairly recent discovery that really delivers great wine for the price. You should be able to find it for around $15 – $17.
$20 – $50
- Schramsberg: they have two bottlings, one is just their rosé, the other is Mirabelle rose. I’m not sure of the difference, but both are great. You can’t go wrong with either.
- Nicolas Feuillatte Rosé Champagne: One of the few (Montaudon is another, but I’ve yet to try it) true rosé Champagnes you can grab for under $50 (it used to be $35…not sure about now) that comes in a great clear bottle and is a spectacular shade of pink. It tastes great as well.
$50 and over
- Billecart-Salmon Rosé Champagne: the Champagne house that is built on their rosé reputation, this used to be our favorite, but with the price climbing closer and closer to $100, this is a very special treat. A pale salmon color and a very finesse oriented Champagne.
- H. Billiot & Fils Rosé Champagne: a very recent discovery, this grower Champagne is stunning and delicious. Perfect with ribs, BBQ or anything pork.
- Dom Ruinart Rosé Champagne: One of our favorites, this replaced B/S last year and is a strong candidate to return once again, though I’m not sure where to find it. I’ve got a treasure hunt!
- Henriot Rosé Champagne: I’ve only sampled this once, but it was delicious. Very feminine and refined. Perfect for sushi (as is most all rosé bubbly) and I believe one of the more value priced of this lot.
Sweet tooth
If you don’t want anything dry, but prefer something bubbly and sweet, go for a Brachetto d’Acqui. These sweet red sparkling wines from Italy are perfect with dark chocolate, as they taste like reduced raspberry liquer. Banfi’s Rosa Regale is the easiet to find and will set you back a Jackson plus a few Washingtons.
Another wine to consider, and I am of no help here, is a Beaujolais Cru from Saint-Amour. I’ve never had any wines from this region, so you should ask your local wine shop if they have any.
So, there are some of my selections. If you’d prefer a big juicy Cabernet, go ahead. Feel like some sparkling white Zinfandel? Drink that. Your taste is what matters most. I’m just here for the ride.
Haiku
Valentine Day drink
A bubbly pink with raw fish
Is this too racy?
Cheers!
