Rosé All the Way

N.C. wines raise profile of rosés for summer sipping

WHEN IT COMES TO wine, nothing pairs better with summer’s hot weather, longer days, seasonal seafood, and beautiful sunsets than a cool glass of rosé.

Not from any specific grape or region, but rather a genre of wine like red or white, rosé can be made anywhere in the world. The longer the skins are left sitting in the wine, the darker the characteristic pink hue and the more tannic, like a red wine, the rosé becomes.

The key is starting with fine grapes and unbeknownst to many, some of the best in and outside of the United States are grown right in North Carolina. Not muscadine, the state grape grown mainly on the coast, but rather the varietals that thrive in the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area, which encompasses seven northwestern counties in the state.

Very much familiar with this region coined by some as the “Napa Valley of the East Coast” is JENN NORRIS (left), a Yadkin Valley native and owner of downtown Wilmington’s JENN’S VIN, a wine shop and tasting room in Chandler’s Wharf exclusively featuring wines from Yadkin Valley wineries.

With cool air coming off the Blue Ridge Mountains, Yadkin Valley has a similar climate and geography to the more famous wine regions in California and Europe, so the same grape varietals grow well there. As an added bonus, it’s a fraction less from here to visit for a little wine county tour.

And unlike the mass producers using a lot of machinery, Yadkin Valley grapes are still handpicked, so the wines produced are very much “filled with love, passion, and friendship,” Norris says.
Like many Wilmington entrepreneurs, Norris has a desire to help the North Carolina economy and sees the wine industry as a way to do it.

“Those are North Carolina jobs. If more people were to purchase wines produced here, our economy would be in such better shape,” she says.

With more and more award-winning wines coming out of the region, Norris predicts North Carolina is on the cusp of a fine wine boom like California in the 1970s. Just give it four or five years, she predicts.

So save on that trip to Napa and visit the Yadkin Valley instead, or better yet, just stop by Jenn’s Vin and taste the fruits of the state’s labor, including these great summer rosés.

RECOMMENDED ROSÉS

2012 Rosa Dia
by Jones vonDrehle Vineyards

• A great “Wilmingtonian” beach or boat wine, a true dry rosé fashioned in Provence style with beautiful fruit notes. Harvested from Grenache grapes in cool morning hours when the combination of color, sweetness, and acids are aligned.
• Pair with: Cheese, shellfish, and warm country breads
• Accolades: Gold 2013 Southeastern Atlantic, Silver 2014 and Double Gold 2013 North Carolina State Fair, Silver 2014 Dallas Morning News, Silver 2014 Southeastern Atlantic, Silver 2014 Indy International, Silver 2014 Asheville Wine & Food Festival

2013 Girasole Rosé
by Raffaldini Vineyards

• Aromatic, medium-bodied dry rosé with a slight sweetness and featuring both apricot and strawberry notes. Crafted from freshly harvested central and southern Italian varietals, Sangiovese and Montepulciano, traditionally grown in the seaside province of Le Marche.
• Pair with: fish stew, clams, and roasted poultry

Old Railroad Rosé
by Jones vonDrehle Vineyards 

• Crafted from Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Merlot grapes in the old French saignee method so the fruit is preserved for you to breathe in and then savor each sip. Kitschy name in honor of the railroad heritage of the North Carolina mountains.
• Pair with: roasted turkey, shellfish, and chèvre with honey

2012 Dulcimer Rosé
by Jones vonDrehle Vineyards

• Another Wilmington favorite, this stunning, slightly sweet and nearly sparkling rosé is crafted from Mourvèdre grapes cold-soaked and pressed. Named after the traditional Appalachian Mountain stringed musical instrument treasured for its beautiful tone and contribution to American folk music.
• Pair with: grilled lamb and vegetables, goat cheese, and light pastas
• Accolades: Gold 2014 Southeastern Atlantic, Silver 2014 North Carolina State Fair, Silver 2014 Asheville Wine & Food Festival, Bronze 2014 Indy International

2015 “Pink”
by JOLO Vineyards

• Crisp, refreshing rosé from 100 percent Chambourcin grapes featuring layers of enticing aromas including watermelon, bright cherry, and raspberry.
• Pair with: vinaigrette salads, oysters, and mild to spicy Asian dishes
• Accolades: Gold Medal Winner 2016 Winemakers Challenge International Wine Competition    

To view more of photographer Erik Maasch's work, visit websta.me/n/emaasch.