Is Blush Wine Sweet Or Dry?
A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine. Wine is always a good thing, whether it’s a small gathering of friends or a long day at work. The mouthwatering flavor and aroma of wine can help anyone going through a troublesome day.
There are several varieties of wine. In recent years, there has been a significant upsurge in the popularity of blush wine.
Known as the official summer wine, it has quickly gained popularity among social media influencers and brunch connoisseurs worldwide as the go-to brunch beverage.
If you are one of those wine enthusiasts interested in learning more about blush wine, you have come to the correct spot. Dive in!
Introduction to Blush wine
Blush wines, which date back to 6th century France, are pink in color and have quickly gained popularity due to their distinct pink color. They vary in taste from mildly sweet to pale, whereas the color can be anything in between pale onion-skin to near-purple.
The action of allowing the clear juice to come into touch with the pigmented skins of a wine is what gives it its distinctive hue (skin-contact method). This delicacy is also confused with rose wine in French, Portuguese and English countries.
Is Blush Wine Sweet or Dry?
Sweet, for the most part. Since there are so many types of blush wine being produced all over the world, the question of whether to drink it dry or sweet is a pretty common one.
Blush wines can range from being nectar sweet to being bone dry in their taste. Older blush kinds produced in France and Spain will often be relatively dry, but newer blush varieties developed in the United States will typically be sweeter.
Of course, there are numerous exceptions, which may be due to the difference in the soil, weather, temperature, etc, as well as the particular preferences of winemakers.
Are Blush Wine and Rosè the Same?
Many people confuse blush wine with rosé wine, believing that the two are the same. Even though they are pretty similar, there are still some differences between them.
First and foremost, all rosé wines are prepared from transparent juice that has been in touch with grape skins for an extended period.
At the same time, rosé wine can never be manufactured from a combination of white and red wines, although blush wines can be prepared using either approach.
All blush wines may thus be classified as rosé wines, but this cannot be claimed for all rosé wine varieties.
In the wine business, the term rosé has become increasingly popular, outpacing the term blush in usage. Regarding wine, wines classified as blush are more focused on the mainstream market, while wines branded as rosé are produced in smaller, more exclusive quantities.
How is Blush Wine Made?
Blush wine can be created in one of three ways:
- Saignee Method: This process requires one portion of red wine juice to be ‘bled off’ with grape skins. These wines are then blended or co-fermented with white wine to lighten them further.
- Vin Gris Method: The term ‘Vin Gris’ translates to ‘gray wine.’ In this method, red grapes are used to prepare wine that is almost transparent. Another key aspect of this method is the short maceration time. This method is also used to prepare Pinot Noir, another popular choice amongst wine enthusiasts.
- Maceration Method: Probably the most common method, this traditional way calls for pressure treatment of grapes followed by soaking them in their skin. It is also known as direct press.
Light to medium pink blush wines can be produced using a variety of color combinations. The liquid that comes out of every bottle of wine is always crystal clear in appearance. It makes no difference whether the wine is made from white or red grapes.
The process of bringing the clear juice into touch with the wine’s skins determines the color of the finished wine.
So, when winemakers wish to produce blush wine, they either mix the white and red grape juices or let the clear juice in touch with the red wine skins for approximately an hour or so before pressing the juice.
It is also possible to change the color of the wine by allowing the clear juice to come into touch with the red wineskins.
Related: How To Make Homemade Blush Wine
The Sweetness Chart
Winemakers have attempted to develop rosé or blush wine from nearly every red wine type available in the world. As a result, there is a diverse variety of blush wines available.
To make this a bit easier for you to understand, here is a small table that consists of different pink wine choices available with their respective tastes.
Wine Name | Key Ingredients | Taste |
Pink Moscato | Berry, stone fruit | Very sweet |
Tavel Grenache | Grapefruit, watermelon | Very dry |
Sangiovese | Red fruits, clove | Off-dry |
White Merlot | Raspberry, strawberry, melon | Sweet |
Cabernet Sauvignon | Plum, cherry, smoke | Semi-dry |
How Much Does Blush Wine Cost?
Because of the large variety of selections available in the market, blush wines are available at different price ranges, starting from $7 and going as high as $80 for the seasoned varietals.
Related: Best Blush Wines
What to Pair Your Wine with?
Known for being extremely food-friendly, blush wine goes well with anything. Because of the fruity notes in blush wine, it is particularly well-suited for pairing with spicy meals.
Sushi and salads also go nicely with blush because of the lightness of the beverage. Because this drink is served chilled, it has become prevalent for outdoor eating occasions like picnics and barbecues.
Snacks to pair with sweet blush wine
- Barbecue meals
- Roasted chicken
- Rich sauce
Snacks to pair with dry blush wine
- Grilled veggies
- Grilled chicken or fish
- Salads
Conclusion
Blush wine’s fresh and light style is perfectly suited to the warmer weather, lighter cuisine, and more laid-back atmosphere that defines the seasons of spring and summer.
Most blush wine producers often add external agents such as artificial sweeteners and coloring to catalyze the taste into something much sweeter.
However, if you want, you can also look into some dry-blush options which are relatively bland but flavored enough to retain the fruity aftertaste.
After reading this post, we hope you will be able to choose your preferred bottle of blush easily. Thanks for reading.