Margerum Riviera Rosé
Rosé is finally having its moment. While its image was once considered unsophisticated, it's now evolved into a lifestyle - pretty, refreshing, and luxe. It used to be difficult for me to find it in restaurants outside Southern France, yet my most recent trip to New York showed me how ubiquitous it has now become - men and women, young and old, bankers and artists all around me seemed to be sipping the pink juice while soaking up the summer sun. Even Vanity Fair is discussing its newfound fame, with this month's article entitled "When did Rosé, Like, Becoming a Thing ?" While I've enjoyed it for years, I'm excited to see that it's finally made its way stateside as a delicious and respectable option on your local wine menu !
With San Francisco's "Indian Summer" just around the corner, I went in search of my new favorite rosé to drink this season. I asked the knowledgeable staff at my local wine shop to recommend 5 or 6 of their favorite rosés this season, and after a series of tastings I settled on Margerum's Riviera Rosé (and stocked up on a few...)
Lots of rosés are seasonal, so I like to stock up on my favorite ones from the summer !
Margerum Riviera Rosé is made by Santa Barbara's restaurateur-turned-winemaker Doug Margerum. Produced primarily from grenache grapes from California's Central Coast, it's dry, crisp, and refreshing, with notes of strawberry, honeysuckle and rose petals. While some rosés suffer from being a bit one-note, one of my favorite things about this wine is its balance - it performs equally well pairing with food or sipping on its own. This aptly-named "riviera rosé" brings me right back to some of my favorite moments in Southern France, with its pale pink color and vibrance. Margerum is reasonably priced between $15-20, with a screw-top cap making it prime for picnics - I highly recommend this one to cap off your summer rosé season !
A glass of rosé and a view of Alcatraz from my rooftop - never gets old !
