Cracka Wines
 
Spring has finally well and truly hit and what better way to celebrate than with a glass of chilled Rosé from your wine library. For the last decade or two Rosé has been in the wilderness. There were very few wines available and most were sweeter than a slab of chocolate cake.
 
But that’s all changed now. Wine fashion is taking a trip back to the seventies and our wine producers are finally starting to take Rosé seriously. So in the 2006 vintage there are Rosés popping up from all over Australia, and most are pretty good so now is the perfect time to have a splash.
 
Rosé is made using red grapes and the wines get their light colour by spending a short amount of time soaking with the red skins. It can be made using any grape variety, although most in Australia come from Grenache, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. Importantly for those without a sweet tooth Rosé comes dry or sweet with the majority of modern wines tending towards the drier side.
 
For outdoor dining or an afternoon drink there is no better wine at this time of the year than Rosé to quench a thirst. It is cool and light enough to refresh with a simple plate of salad but also has the stuffing to stand up to a piece of fresh fish or rump straight off the barbeque. When buying Rose always go for the last vintage from your wine library, so the 2006 wines this season, because Rosés are made to be drunk young and most don’t age particularly well.

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