Top local rosé wines for the holidays

Posted: 10:37 am, November 23, 2014 by Publisher Scott Brennan

Rosé has come along way from white zinfandel on the American palate. So it’s funny that a rosé zinfandel was one of my favorites in the list below. These Paso Robles rosé wines will pair well with lighter faire, appetizers like prosciutto-wrapped melon, smoked salmon and deviled eggs. They will also go well with baked ham, pork tenderloin and white meat of roasted turkey. Serve them chilled. Enjoy!

Best Paso Robles rosé wines for the holidays

HammerSky’s 2013 Rosé Zinfandel is a refreshing treat.

Burbank Ranch 2013 Syrah Rosé “Friends” – $22
This aptly named, refreshing pink wine would make a nice opener among friends. It offers rose petal aromas with tastes of raspberries and cherries. It would pair well with appetizers and lighter holiday meals.

Eberle Syrah Rosé – $18
This dry rosé has a nose of fresh peaches and raspberries with flavors of strawberries and a hint of spice. During fermentation a portion of the juice was drawn off and aged on viognier lees to add a floral character. It would make a great starter wine for any party.

HammerSky 2013 Rosé Zinfandel – $28
This wine is a perfect pink rose color with fresh aromas of strawberry and watermelon. Its flavors bring crisp berries and a hint of spice. It’s one of the best rosé wines we tasted.

J. Lohr 2013 Gesture Grenache Rosé – $18
This light rosé displays aromas of kumquat, Asian pear and clover on the nose and finishes with fresh fruit and lean acidity. It would make a great starter wine for any party.

Robert Hall Rosé de Robles – $14
This vibrant pink wine is made from a Rhone varietal blend heavy on grenache and syrah. Its aroma is of strawberry and tangerine with flavors of more berries and a hint of citrus zest. It’s tasty and approachable. It has the best price point of this group.

Twin Coyotes 2013 Grenache Rosé “Bashful” – $20
This light and fruity rosé offers a touch of sweetness, making it a great choice for introducing folks to wine appreciation. It would pair nicely with turkey and cranberry relish.

Best Paso Robles wines for the holidays

Editors note: I thought it would be a great idea to recommend local wines for upcoming holiday parties and dinners, but I had no idea how much participation we would receive from wineries. Over the last week we received about 100 entries. I was originally planning a list of 10 or so of the best wines, but after tasting and tasting and tasting, there were just too many solid, well-made wines to recommend. So we decided to break up the list of top local wines into categories. The recommended wines are in alphabetical order.