Drink Frosé at Mora Italian
Wait, what? Frozen rosé? Yes, it’s as delicious and genius as it sounds. And it’s all the rage this summer, popping up at five-star Manhattan restaurants and making wine critics’ top 10 lists. Head to Mora Italian on Seventh Street for their take on this 2017 wine trend. Mora’s Rosé Snowcone ($11) takes a Provencal rosé wine and blends it with grapefruit, watermelon, peaches, and pink peppercorn tincture, then serves it grandly over shaved ice. Tart, citrusy, and with the perfect icy crunch. We’re tempted to try this at home.
Grab a Can of Dos Cabezas Sparkling Rosé
It’s like a unicorn. Or a Bigfoot sighting. Rare, special, and highly sought-after, it’s the Dos Cabezas Sparkling Rose in a tallboy can. Released earlier this year, it’s shown up on the menus at FnB in Scottsdale, Bar Bianco in downtown Phoenix, and Garage East in Gilbert. Thanks to the “I’m drinking wine out of a can” fun factor and the crisp, bubbly, slightly sweet flavor, these babies go quickly. Call ahead to find out if it’s in stock, or just go straight to the source: Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Sonoita.
Provencal Coeur Clémentine
Clémentine Province Instagram
If you’re going to dive into rosé, you might as well go French. Provence, France, is the heart of rosé country, where making blush wines has not only been a profession, but an art, for generations. A blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah, and the super-rare tibouren grape, the Provencal Coeur Clémentine ($18 retail price) nicely balances its dry, light delicacy with depth and roundness. It’s refreshing, charming, and a great food-pairing wine. Available on the menu at Tarbell’s Restaurant.
Stock-up On Crowd-Pleasing Fat Louis Cabaret Rosé at Hidden Track
Maybe it’s the festive 1920s label featuring a cabaret dancer. Maybe it’s the wild strawberry aromas, or the lively yet smooth finish. Whatever it is, people love this affordable ($12), perfect-for-a-party rosé, and clamor to restock their fridges with it. The wine comprises 50 percent cinsault and 50 percent grenache, and can be found at Hidden Track Bottle Shop in downtown Phoenix. Don’t be surprised if you get sidelined browsing Hidden Track’s stellar lineup of Old World and New World wines; each and every one is hand-selected by the shop’s owners.
Build-Your-Own Rosé Tasting at Central Wine
With nearly 10 bottles on offer, not including pink bubbles, of which they usually have two or three, Central Wine keeps things exciting when it comes to rosé. From the bright notes of the zingy and zesty Portuguese Broadbent Vinho Verde Rosé ($30) to the smooth and full-bodied French Chateau La Coste Rosé ($33), you can sip nearly every rosé style from around the world.
Peruse Provencal Rosés at French Grocery
French Grocery is part wine market and part café, so pull up a stool at the wine bar to sample a glass or two — and to get wine tips from the highly knowledgeable staff — before perusing the shelves.While you won’t get an international tour at this gem of a place on Seventh Avenue, you will discover all you need to know about French rosés. If bubbles are your thing, pick up a bottle of any of the dry sparkling rosés currently in rotation, but really, the reason to shop French Grocery is for their selection of classic Provencal rosés. If they have the Château de Paraza Minervois Rosé ($12) in stock, snag a bottle or two: It’s aromatic, light, and easy to drink.
Garage East Rose
Garage East/Instagram
Simply pronounced “rose,” like the flower, this lovely little blush is made in-house at Garage East, the wine bar and café located at Agritopia in Gilbert. Made from the grenache grape, Rose ($21) offers plenty of flower notes on the palate, with a light, clean, and crisp finish. Perfect for an early evening aperitif while sitting on the patio. And for those hot afternoons? Grab one of their rosé Popsicles.
