Rosé is lighter than red and white wine, and produced when blends of both red and white grapes are watered down. It was considered civilised to dilute wine in ancient Greece, but early varieties differ greatly from the rosés that exist now. According to myth, Amphictyon, son of Deucalion and Pyrrah, first diluted red wine with water to reduce its strength in order to minimise quarrelling at councillor meetings. In reality, some wines remained paler than others because they were not left to macerate for too long, and so, never became deep red.
The Phocaeans (Greeks who travelled long distances by sea) brought grape vines to Massalia, (modern day Marseille) in the 6th century BC. They produced wines that were blends of red and white grapes, and naturally light in colour. These pink-hued wines became the talk of the Mediterranean region. The Romans had heard all about the ‘pink wines of Massalia’ before landing in Provence, and used their well-connected trade networks to popularise them around the region. The south of France is considered the birthplace of rosé even today.
Back in the 90s, rosé was not considered fine wine. Sommeliers never recommended it because serious wine drinkers looked down on it. The prerogative of cafés and cheap restaurants, rosé remained an outcast until the early 2000s. Slowly, beach resorts across the US started stocking pink wine from France. As Francophiles grew in number, rosé started making a place for itself.
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Suddenly, drinking rosé became mainstream. Social media was responsible for the popularity of the pink beverage. Instagram star Josh Ostrovsky even said, "Rosé is like puppies, if you hate it you are an absolute monster.” Sommeliers from all over the US made sure to include the wine on their lists.
Some have argued that rosé is just a passing fancy, but experts disagree. It has begun to be seen as a new type of wine rather than a mere trend. Rosé has carved a place alongside red, white and even sparkling wine. Beyond the US, it has gone on to become a part of wine lists even across Europe. Although red and white wines still dominate, at least one rosé is always listed on a wine menu.
