Fruits That Pair Best With Rosé Wines
There are many takes and variations of Rosé wine, but the unadulterated version is made of strictly red wine grapes. What separates it from regular red wine is the time in which it ferments with the grape skins, one to two days.
Then the skins are removed leaving behind that classic pink hue with a more subtle taste, making it the wine of choice for the summer. You can have a crisp and refreshing glass on its own, but what elevates any wine is the perfect pairing.
Typically, berries and forest fruits are recommended pairings for Rosé wines. This is due to the way in which they complement the red grapes used to make the wine. This includes strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and the list goes on.
With quite a few options of fruit to choose from, you might be wondering how to narrow down the list to the perfect pairing for you. Luckily, there are other factors to consider, which may help to make the choice more clear.
How Do I Choose the Fruit for my Rosé Wine?
When choosing the right fruit to go with your Rosé wine, there are a few factors that may help you narrow down the list. Whether you are preparing a tasting for many or enjoying a private tasting for yourself, you can refer to these helpful tips.
Keep in mind that there are some precursory elements in choosing fruit for your wine, like personal preference or food allergies. Otherwise, you may consider:
- Season
- Flavor Profile
- Other Food Combinations
Season of the Fruit
In our modern culture, we have advanced industry and production to the point where food is always in supply. Only on very rare occasions do we experience shortages. Though you can purchase produce year-round, there is a time when your selections will be at their best.
Picking fruit while they are in season helps to limit the selection of fruit to choose for your wine. More than that, fruit in season is always going to be fresher than out-of-season when the fruit is kept in freezer units to prevent them from spoiling.
You are more likely to find a healthy supply of the fruit you are wanting when they are in season, which helps with the cost. Supply and demand directly affect the price. Purchasing strawberries in the winter is going to be more expensive than purchasing them in the summer when they are in season.
| Spring | Summer | Fall |
| Strawberries | Strawberries | Cranberries |
| Dewberry | Raspberries | Raspberries |
| Lingonberries | Blueberries | Blueberries |
| Black Mulberries | Blackberries | Blackberries |
| Cherries | Cherries | Cherries |
| Salmonberries | Black Currant | Black Currant |
| Red Mulberry | Red Currant | Red Currant |
Some of the fruit that ripen in the Fall can stretch though winter and still remain fresh and relatively low in price, especially those whose season ends in November, like Cranberries. Acai berries are one of a few Winter berries, with a season ranging from August-December and January-June.
The Flavor Profile
The flavor profile that you are looking for can influence the fruit you ultimately select. Bringing two unique flavors together can enhance one single note or balance out two opposing notes.
If you go with a dry Rosé that is already tart in flavor, you can try to balance it out with a sweeter fruit choice, like strawberries or you can enhance the tartness of the wine by pairing it with a fruit that has a similar taste profile, like gooseberries.
If you have a sweet Rosé you can do the same. Either you enhance the sweetness and go with a fruit like blueberries or balance out the sweetness with a more tart option. There are also choices that are both tart and sweet, like raspberries or blackberries.
Other Food Combinations
Whether you are entertaining a crowd, having an intimate glass for two or flying solo, you may want to have more than just fruit to go with your Rosé. The fruit you select should pair well with the other food items on your plate to create a cohesive tasting experience that elevates the wine, instead of taking away from it.
You can go as simple as goat cheese and strawberry bruschetta or as elaborate as grilled chicken breast with blackberry corn salsa. If you want to keep it strictly sweet there are a number of great fruit-based desserts that may fit your fancy, like blueberry cobbler with a biscuit instead of pie crust.
Whatever your choice there are many options, both sweet and savory, to compliment your fruit selection and your wine.
What to Look for When Selecting Fruit
Now that you know which fruit is in season and what other foods and flavor profiles you want with your tasting, you can head to the grocery store or your local farmer’s market and make your selection. Of the supply that is available to you, choose the best of the best. Every fruit has different markers to let you know if it is the perfect one from the bunch.
Blueberries need to be rich in color, firm to the touch and dry. Since they typically come in a pack, look to see if there are any rotting or crushed ones at the bottom of the container.
Cherries should be plumpy and also rich in color but it’s the sheen of the skin that really lets you know. They need to shine like they were just freshly polished.
For some fruits it’s the fragrance, like strawberries, but even if you don’t have the full breakdown of every fruit characteristic in the market, you can count on three things.
- Visual Appearance: Color and Unspoiled
- Texture: Firm or Soft
- Sensory: Fragrance
Conclusion
Now that you know which fruit goes with your Rosé wine and how to select them, all that’s left is for you to kick back, pour yourself a glass and try out some combinations to find your favorites.
Share your findings with your friends and loved ones and bring them along in your explorations. Become the go-to expert for wine pairings for any occasion.
