Sip Rosé and Travel the World for Under $20

How can you travel to a glorious international destination for less than $20? With a bottle of wine, of course! The time is now to embark on your next delicious adventure with swirls and sips of any of the five rosés (sent as samples) described below. Whether it’s a virtual visit to the windswept island of Sicily, a seaside town in the south of France, a lakeside retreat in Northern Italy, or a coastal beach in Portugal, these affordable choices, many of which are available at Wine.com, will have you dreaming of possibilities that lie ahead.

Valdo Floral Rosé Brut NV ($16) is from Valdo, a brand founded in 1926 by the Società Anonima Vini Superiori and purchased by the Bolla Family in 1938. Since its inception, Valdo has respected the vineyards and winemaking traditions for over 90 years. In this lovely sparkling wine, a creative blend of 75% Nerello Mascalese from vineyards around 1,000 feet above sea level on the lower slopes of the Etna volcano in Sicily and 25% Glera from vineyards in the Veneto was created using the Charmat method of production. Delicate aromas of raspberries, strawberries and florals teased my nose and refreshing flavors of red and black berries were joyously enhanced with tiny perlage.

Planeta Rosé 2019 ($20) is of Nero d’Avola cultivated on white, chalky soil near Noto and Syrah from Sicily. Lovely aromas of fresh, just-picked raspberries, red rose petals, hint of spice and herbs, and breezy salinity wafted from the glass. On the palate, snappy acidity and red berries offered a lingering, satisfying finish. After harvest, the grapes were destemmed then pressed lightly before a one to two-hour maceration in order to extract the desired color and flavor. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and the result was a refreshing rosé, Sicilian style.

Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2019 ($13) will make you want to find a spot at an outdoor café and gaze upon the Mediterranean Sea in the South of France. From the hills above the bay of Marseille, this elegant Provençal style wine of Syrah and Mourvèdre, offered aromas of fresh strawberries, red flowers, vanilla and sea breeze. Brisk acidity and signature minerality framed notes of red fruit, mint, herbs and baking spice. This beautiful rosé was produced using the saignée method. Jean-Luc Colombo writes, “My passion is to create wines that give people pleasure. I want each glass to be like a song praising the simple but important things of life, observing nature, enjoying food and sharing with others.”

Bertani Bertarose Rosé 2019 ($19) is crafted by one of the most legendary Amarone producers in the Veneto region of Italy. Produced from Molinara and Merlot cultivated in vineyards on calcareous-clay soils in the inland hills of Lake Garda, the varieties were vinified separately. On-the-skin fermentation was used for the Molinara and off-the-skin fermentation was used for the Merlot. Aromas of strawberries and herbs were bright and lively and brilliant acidity enveloped flavors of dried herbs and crushed berries. Tart, delicate, and sophisticated, red fruit notes and a sensation of minerality lingered on my palate. Fresh and balanced, the wine spent around three months on its lees in stainless steel tanks.

Mateus Dry Rosé 2019 ($13) was launched in the spring of 2020 by Sogrape, the prominent family-owned wine producer in Portugal. Of Baga and Shiraz grapes, I found enticing aromas of dried rose petals, red berries, green herbs, hint of mint, spice and minerality. On the palate, mouthwatering acidity lifted notes of red florals and lush, juicy red berries, all of which led to a dry, snappy finish. Originally crafted in 1942, the design of the bottle was inspired by flasks worn by soldiers during World War 1. Now, the Dry Rosé 2019 is in a bottle that’s taller, gently curved and boasts a contemporary silver label.

Are you curious about the process of crafting rosé?

Some rosé wines are produced using Direct Pressing. Black grapes are crushed then pressed like the process in white winemaking. Little color from the skin is extracted, but it takes finesse to ensure that too much tannin is extracted, too.

Drawing Off is a process whereby once fermentation is under way, the juice is drawn off after 6-48 hours, depending on the amount of color desired; the color is deeper the longer the wine is in contact with the skins. After the juice has been drawn off, fermentation continues at a cooler temperature, a method to retain fresh, fruity flavors.

A number of rosés are produced using the Saignée or Bleeding method. The procedure is similar to Drawing Off except that only a small amount of the juice is removed – the remainder stay in contact with the grape skins to produce a red wine. The purpose of this process is to increase the concentration of the red wine with the rosé wine as a by-product.

On occasion, a small amount of red wine is added to a white wine to produce a rosé – the process is called Blending. The European Union doesn’t allow this practice except in the Champagne region, but some inexpensive rosés from the New World are made in this manner. I dare you to do this at home!

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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Ready to travel? Join me April 7-14, 2022 as I host a group of like minded wine lovers on a Rhône River Wine Cruise on AmaWaterways from Avignon to Lyon. Click here for more information!