Winesday with The Wine Shop – Rose
Dan and Ellen O’Connell at The Wine Shop in Koloa. Photo courtesy of The Wine Shop.
Tasting Kauai is happy to partner with the O’Connells for Winesday with The Wine Shop. Owners Dan and Ellen O’Connell are a delightful couple whose passion for wine is infectious, their knowledge is vast, and their service is friendly. Their beautiful store carries everything from wine and spirits to gourmet foods and sweet treats. Check in with Tasting Kauai every Wednesday to learn about their favorites. ¡Salud!
It seems like every year I end up singing the praises of Rosé. It helps that so many winemakers are growing specific varietals and blocks of vineyards just for Rosé. What has prompted my selection of wine for this week’s blog is the new release of Julia’s Dazzle by Long Shadows Vintners.
Long Shadows Vintners is located in Columbia Valley, Washington. They make this wonderful Pinot Grigio Rosé and release it only once a year. This is The Wine Shop’s third year ordering this outstanding wine, and each year we have needed to double our order based on the demand! Yes, we just received this year’s allotment and it will fly off the shelves fast. The beautiful color (light pink) and aromas of strawberry and orange peel make this dry style Rosé not only refreshing, but the perfect choice for so many food pairings. The clean, crisp finish is amazing with grilled vegetables, seafood salad and poke.We also carry a number of Rosés from around the world. France, in particular, has a great growing region called Provence, which is known for their Rosé. In France it’s all about the terroir, or the combination of soil, climate, and environment that gives a wine its distinctive flavor. Some portions of France’s vineyards are extremely rocky. The vines seem to pull a lot of the flavor from the craggy land and that gives the wine a crisp and mineral flavor on the back palate, which is also called “the finish.”
California is also stepping up in the Rosé market by planting specific vineyards just to produce Rosé wine. We love the new subtleties of some Rosés that are made with big bold flavored grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot. On your next visit to The Wine Shop, please ask to see our new Rosés, and just try one. You will be pleasantly surprised!
Dano and Ellen O’Connell
The Wine Shop is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On the first Saturday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m., they host monthly wine tastings. For more information call 808-742-7305 or visit www.thewineshopkauai.com. The shop is located just across the street from the Koloa Post Office.