"rose" news and stories

Nothing wrong with beer or mixed drinks, but wine at a cook-out is a new twist if you're in search of something different. There's no reason why you need to save your favorite wines for multi-course dinners served indoors. Raid your cellar and see what you come up with, paying close attention to wines with incredible body and spices. Paired with grilled meats and vegetables - even grilled fruits like peaches - new flavor notes arise in the food.

Here are seven wines that are perfect for sipping at a cook-out. You might want to think about chilling the reds for a bit. This won't ruin the flavor profile but it will be more refreshing while you're baking in the sun.

2008 Kendall-Jackson Vineyard Estates Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir, California ($18)
Pinot and salmon is a classic pairing and that doesn't change when the fish is grilled. A cedar aroma kicks off this Pinot, which is anything but mellow and has an undercurrent of cola flavors that dance with the wild-raspberry fruit notes. Although light in body -- which we like on hot days -- there is still enough spicy flavor that provides wiggle room to encrust spices on top of your salmon. (Because we wouldn't want you to forego any additional flavors, of course.)

The Riveter. Photo: LeNell Smothers.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label called Red Hook Rye and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

I drink rosé year round. Get over the idea that it's a flimsy soda-pop wine meant for picnics. When in doubt for food pairing, I often go with the pink. Rosé can be so versatile, even as an ingredient in a cocktail.

You can still find Bordeaux bottles every now and then, labeled claret, that are dark, dry, "serious" rosés. For my cocktail feature this week, I strongly suggest picking up a bottle. If not Bordeaux, look for a rosé made with Bordeaux grapes like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc or a malbec that's so dark, it's almost a light red.

Rosé ain't for wimps. Neither is this cocktail named after Rosie, the American icon who represented the many women who went to work in factories to help us make it through World War II. Toast all the beautiful and strong women in your life who make this world a better place!

Get the recipe for Rosé the Riveter after the jump. ...

Photo: REC(ession)IPES

Times are tough, but that doesn't mean we should stop sipping on drinks like this stylish sangria. In fact, an uncomfortable economic climate might be just the reason to sit down with a lavish-looking cocktail or two.

This sangria from REC(ession)IPES is made using rosé, crème de cassis, strawberries, raspberries and pineapple, and sparkles with seltzer. It's even somewhat nutritious, thanks to all of that beautiful fruit. Best of all: It costs less than a dollar per serving to make. We'll have three!

[Via Rec(ession)ipies]

• Mark Bittman writes about the current woes of everything fishy, and how the consumer can deal with depleted stocks and troublesome farming practices without going nuts ... and then goes Minimalist with sustainable seafood recipes.
• And if that's not enough, experts weigh in on the seafood conundrum.
• Local fruit exchanges in California allow neighbors to share their bounty and let no lemon, plum or persimmon go to waste.

Gretchen Roberts has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

Here we are at the start of the idlest season of the year, when it's so hot you have to relax, when the produce is so bountiful you can't help but gobble it, and when life gets simpler and so should your wine.

Which brings me to rosé, the ultimate summer wine. Why? Because rosés, made from red grapes but drunk chilled and fresh like white wine, are pretty, refreshing and incredibly evocative of some of the best summer fruits -- and the newest releases are hitting the store shelves right now.

Seven inexpensive rosé picks after the jump.