This summer staple is so tasty it’ll make you blush

Are you seeing pink? Don’t adjust your vision, just grab a glass and pop open a bottle of cool rosé. The official drink of the summer is in season, beckoning you to the patio for sips in the shade. What exactly is the deal with this pink drink, though? To find out, we chatted with the expert, Sarah Pierre, founder of 3 Parks Wine Shop.

In close proximity to Grant, Ormewood and Glenwood parks, 3 Parks provides a boutique shopping experience. Pierre stocks the shelves with wines not readily found at grocery stores and knows her products inside and out. Warm and affable, she seems at home bouncing around the store assisting customers, but she beams when the subject turns to rosé. Pierre has loved rosé for years and is glad that the rest of America is finally catching up.

Rosé is simply the product of a red grape varietal that has been pressed and its skins soaked with the juices for a period of time. This is known as “skin contact.” Any red grape can be used to make rosé; which grape is used varies by region.

The pink-hued wine began its rise to popularity about 10 years ago, but it was only in the last three years that the trend really bloomed. Pierre attributes that to the fact that Americans are collectively just now starting to become wine drinkers. “People drink more now.” As Americans’ interest in wine expanded, so did their willingness to try wines they previously scoffed at. “It’s not faux pas to do now what other people have been doing forever,” she explains.

Atlanta drinkers, Pierre says, are a seasonal bunch. When it’s cold outside, we want red; when it’s summer, we want something lighter. Pierre sells rosé all year round, but customers swoop in en masse for rosé around March. She says, “The second it starts to warm up, people are all about it.” So why is this wine so irresistible during the summer? “It’s refreshing,” says Pierre. “Is it any more refreshing than a crisp white? No. But you get different flavor profiles like strawberries and raspberries.” With the surge of interest in rosé, winemakers have moved it higher on their to-do lists. Many producers now have dedicated rosé plots instead of making it as a byproduct of red wines. The result is a higher quality of rosé in the past few years, thanks to this revamped effort.

Don’t ask Pierre to pick just one favorite; instead, she’s happy to share a few, including Domaine d’Eole from Provence, Liquid Geography from Spain and Matthiasson from Napa Valley. If you feel lost in the rosé garden, Pierre curates a monthly rosé wine club during the summer. For $80, sample six handpicked wines with a tasting notes sheet and a cute carrier bag for easy portability. Are you ready to say “Yes way, rosé”?

3 Parks Wine Shop
451 Bill Kennedy Way, 30316
678.349.7070
3parkswine.com

SWEET & SOUR

A PITCHER-PERFECT SUMMER SIPPER

Photo: Lia Picard

ROSÉ LEMONADE

Serves 4 or more

This simple rosé cocktail is perfect for patio gatherings, Sunday brunches and barbecues. Edible flowers, which can be found at Sprouts Farmers Markets, add a touch of whimsy to your glass.

750 ml bottle of rosé
11 oz. lemonade
2 c. club soda
Ice
Optional garnish: lemon slices, edible flowers

Combine rosé and lemonade in a pitcher with ice. Top off with club soda, and stir to combine. Pour into Tom Collins glasses and garnish with lemon slices and flowers

STORY: Lia Picard
Photo: Erik Meadows