#nailedit: Rose from Oliver Winery
Erica Sagon
We're on a mission to drink all the good drinks. Let's get going.
We can't survive on spirits alone, so occasionally we drink other things.
Right now, that thing is pink drink. Summer water. You know, rosé.
We can't get enough of the tremendously drinkable Chambourcin Rosé from Oliver Winery in Bloomington, made with chambourcin grapes grown in Oliver's vineyards right here in southern Indiana. Everything about this rosé is really lovely, from its color to its flavor. Dry, but not too dry, fresh, bright and lush, and darker than most others. And affordable!
It's perfect for day drinking and mighty fine with a cheese and meat board. Lately, evenings have been looking something like this:
You could even use it to mix up fun cocktails like a Rose Spritzer.
Rosé from France and Oregon seems to get all the love, so we're excited that this top-notch one is made right in our backyard.
A quick primer on the pink stuff: it's made from red-wine grapes, not a blend of red and white. When the grapes are pressed, the juice and skins mingle just briefly. Because most of a wine's color comes from the skin, the juice ends up pink instead of red.
Oliver Winery's Chambourcin Rose is fermented in stainless steel tanks. Photo from Oliver Winery.
At Oliver, those grapes are Chambourcin, a French hybrid that also yields a dry red wine for Oliver.
Winemaker Bill Oliver, the president of Oliver Winery, says the chambourcin vines that were planted more than a decade ago at the vineyard have produced seven or eight vintages of rosé, and up to 600 cases annually.
"The inspiration for this came from a leaner, austere rosé made in Oregon," he says. "It's light and berry-like. It's one of my favorite wines."
Ours too, Bill. Ours too. Now, excuse us while we figure out how to make the water dispenser on our refrigerator door flow with that rosé.
Oliver Winery's Chambourcin Rose is made with grapes grown at Oliver Winery's vineyard outside of Bloomington. Photo from Oliver Winery.
Photo from Oliver Winery.