Is Pinot Noir Rosé Sweet or Dry?
Pinot noir rosé uses a very temperamental grape. It only grows well in cool climates that see a lot of rain. Needless to say, this makes the Willamette Valley an ideal location to grow it. It's a dry rosé wine that nonetheless has many sweet characteristics. This confuses many as to whether it's a dry or sweet wine. Once you understand it, you begin to see the possibilities in the best pinot noir rosé pairings.
Pinot Noir Rosé Has Exceptional Dryness
Dry wines typically ferment longer, allowing more of the sugar to be consumed. This can take away some of their sweetness, but the unique quality of pinot noir rosé is that it's a dry rosé wine that still brings a lot of sweet and floral flavors. It can feel more delicate because of that dryness. Pinot noir rosé can have as little as 3 grams of sugar per serving. That's among the lowest measurements of any wine.
The primary flavor you'll taste in a good pinot noir rosé is strawberries. This is joined by rose and pomegranate flavors. You may also taste a bit of orange zest, lemon, or white cherry, depending on the particular maker.
The Best Pinot Noir Rosé Pairings
These flavors bring out the most in spices like thyme. Greener spices will help pronounce the sweet flavors in the wine. This makes thyme-roasted chicken an ideal pairing.
A number of corn dishes also work well. That sweet flavor of corn that hits the back and sides of the mouth help highlight the fruit flavor along the center of your tongue. The bit of butter you might put on corn on the cob or that hint of cream in a dish like corn chowder is just enough to highlight pinot noir rosé's acidic qualities. That creates a superb mouthfeel.
A goat cheese salad or goat cheese with herb crackers can combine those green spice flavors with something creamy for a highly floral taste with a dry delivery. Each bite and sip you alternate will accentuate the creaminess and herb-flavor of the goat cheese with that bright acidity of the dry rosé wine.
Other good recommendations to consider are trout, salmon burgers, crab, or edamame.
Good and Guilt-Free
The great part of this all is that pinot noir rosé is a pretty healthy wine with a low sugar content that pairs deliciously with other healthy and incredibly tasty meals. Of course, you can also enjoy pinot noir rosé on its own without feeling guilty. That low sugar content makes it a perfect wine to drink whenever you like. Those fruit and floral flavors make it perfect for sitting on the patio and listening to the wind through the trees.