While the upcoming holidays have us a little dazzled with images of snow, Santa and other landscapes seldom seen in our beautiful corner of Southern Africa, there’s a sultry hot summer calling you to play! Your perfect partner for summer fun is waiting for you in the Louisvale’s Stellenbosch cellars. Can’t you hear one of Louisvale Wines’ iconic Stone Road Cinsault rosés calling to you already? It’s time to give some love to a Devon Valley favourite today, with a spotlight on one of Louisvale’s favourite rosé wines.
What’s a rosé, anyway?
rosé wines, sometimes known by the Portuguese name rosado in South Africa, are a pale pink wine with a blush of colour. This can be a translucent pale pink right through to a deep purple, but is not easily mistaken for the opaque colour of a true red wine. This pale, shimmering colour is a result of having only a brief touch from the grape skins. That doesn’t mean rosé is a pretender, however! This may, in fact, be the oldest type of wine ever made, with one of the most straightforward production methods of all wines. You’ll find still, sparkling and semi-sparkling rosé wines on the market, and they range from sweet to dry, so there’s no one specific taste from this classic afternoon wine. rosé wines are characterised by a light, pleasant drinking experience that’s gentle and easy. They can be made from a range of grapes, and vineyards are found all over the world.
Most rosé is made through either ‘skin contact’ or saignée winemaking methods. Although ‘blending’ (where a white and a red are mixed) is sometimes used, it’s seen as a pretender and not a true rosé and the results can be lacklustre. It’s even banned in France as a production method!
Skin contact is the most common production method, where the crushed fruit keeps the grape skins for up to a day before the must is pressed and the skins discarded. It’s one of the key differences between a rosé and a red wine, where the skins are instead fermented with the juice. Saignée is a separate method where rosé can be made from the separate fermentation of the pink juice intentionally ‘bled’ from the must in a red wine vat.
What makes the Lousivale Stone Road Cinsault rosé so special?
The Stellenbosch Wine Route holds many gems- and we like to think the Stone Road rosé is one of them. Despite the slightly different label, this is still very much a quality Louisvale wine. Imagine a crisp dry wine with a soft pink blush, chilled to perfection, sipped as you relax on our patio or around the pool. That’s the spirit of the Stone Road Cinsault Rosé. Vibrant berry and watermelon flavours that are the perfect vibe for summer will wash over your tastebuds, freshening the heat and making you feel at home. Enjoy this one on ice for the perfect summer companion, shake it up in a Froze (think the ultimate adult slushie), or simply serve chilled to perfection.
If you’re wanting to match this succulent rosé up with the tastes of summer, think light. A fresh cream pasta, light fish dish, or chicken salad can all get extra depth paired up with this summer pleaser. If you have a sweet tooth, the hints of berry and melon mesh perfectly with almost every dessert, too.
Keen to try this Louisvale wines crowd-pleaser? It’s available countrywide in most quality liquor stores, or directly through Louisvale Wines in Stellenbosch.
The Stone Road Cinsault Rosé has the iconic tastes of summer rolled into a light, pleasing wine you can sip to refresh yourself on a long, hot afternoon. Why not kick-start your summer holidays with this delectable summer favourite today?
