Rosé refers to a wine made when red grapes are given slight skin contact to produce a blush, light copper, salmon or pink color. Rosés range from bone-dry to medium- sweet and are made in most major wine producing countries. Among the most famous examples are Tavel from France’s Rhone Valley, numerous offerings from Provence in southern France as well as several excellent versions from Puglia in southern Italy.

Often thought of as a summer wine – in this case, a substitute for red wine when the weather is hot – they can be enjoyed year round. The drier versions, of course, are meat for food pairings; recommended matches include chicken salad, vegetables and seafood such as tuna or salmon (especially with a rich rosé made from Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir).