Blushing Bubbles
When you were a child, summer was synonymous with ice cream; now the season's siren call belongs to rose. Just a whiff of that floral, raspberry aroma is enough to transport you to a sunnier place. But this year, elevate your style and graduate to bubbles. Sparkling roses and pink Champagnes have never been more ubiquitous, or more affordable. And there are anniversaries we need to celebrate. For one, it's 200 years since Madame Clicquot created the first-ever blended rose Champagne. Before the good lady began mixing red and white wines, pink Champagne was just regular fizz colored with elderberries. Meanwhile, Moet & Chandon's flagship Moet Imperial, named for Napoleon, turns 150 next year.
Both houses have steadily increased their output of rose Champagnes, fueled by demand but also by global warming, which has made for a more consistent yield of pinot noir grapes in the Champagne region. Until recently, rose Champagnes were only produced in vintage years -- roughly three times a decade. It wasn't until the late 1990s that Moet began making nonvintage rose, and it now accounts for 10 percent of all Moet's production, up from around two percent a few decades ago. But even nonvintage Champagne is not for everyday consumption. Sparkling rose from Italy lacks the subtlety -- and sense of occasion -- of Moet or Clicquot, but it won't leave your wallet feeling as light, either. A dry sparkling pinot noir like Contadi Castaldi's Franciacorta Rose from Lombardy in northern Italy, for example, is less than $30, while a sparking prosecco like Mionetto Rose, with its peach pink hue, will get a garden party started for the "we'll take a third glass" price of $14 a bottle. You can save the Moet for when the guests have gone.
Keep scrolling for five festive, affordable bubblies.
Clos du Bois Lightly Bubbled Rosé $12.99
Though not technically a sparkling wine, this gently effervescent vino pairs well with seafood. The extended fall season of 2017 helped accentuate the cherry and cranberry notes, but it's neither too sweet nor too insistent.
Mionetto Rosé Extra Dry $14
Offering a gulp of fresh-picked strawberries, a touch of rhubarb, and a long finish, this or Mionetto's Italian sparkling rose is a great aperitif, and a great value, too.
Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Rosé $28
This pinot noir from the Franciacorta area of Lombardy in northern Italy -- with rhubarb and strawberry notes and a long, dry finish -- is a good sparkler and a nice complement to chicken or lobster.
Moët Imperial Brut Rosé $49.99
With the largest estate in Champagne (covering some 230 of the 319 wine villages that are certified "Champagne") Moet can afford to be choosy. The Imperial Rose bursts with fresh fruit while retaining a crisp, clean body. Benoit Gouez, chief winemaker of Moet & Chandon, describes it as "frank" and "generous." Sounds like the perfect companion.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rosé $50
Good old widow (veuve in French) Clicquot would be happy to see how her 200-year-old creation fares today. A delicate but lively rose on the right side of sweet with a nice, almondy finish, its iconic label and consistent quality make it among the most distinctive Champagnes in the world.
