Do you remember your first dinner parties? For those of us in our fifties perhaps they are reminded of the times in their late teens and early twenties when one thought is was time to be sophisticated and entertain with a little more finesse. No more party sevens and Babychams, but perhaps some half decent food and wine. A starter of melon sprinkled with ginger and a main course of coq au vin. I could never remember the pudding probably because I had not been fully tamed and guzzled with the other blokes a few beers before, probably a party seven that had been snuck in below the female radar.
But what was on top of the table, Blue Nun, Black Tower and of course a nice bottle of Mateus Rosé? A nice shaped bottle with a posh looking label and a lovely pink colour wine with a slight sparkle, the girls loved it the boys drunk it – it was alcohol. For the so called sophisticated, it was the rosé that clinched it; who ever brought the rosé must know their wines. - what class!
What class indeed – in other circles to turn up with a bottle of Mateus Rosé would have been an irreparable social gaff, creating an awkward silence amongst the guests and probably a sarcastic “charming” retorted by the ever so polite hostess who would have quickly passed it to her husband who would squirrel it away and donate it to the school Christmas raffle.
But, like so many late 70s and early eighties pop groups is rosé making a come- back, the difference is rosé is fresh and has lost none of its sparkle. It has always been a favourite in the glamorous settings of the South of France; it is just the discerning middle England that has scoffed. Indeed, recently many wine commentators have sung the praises of rosé declaring it an acceptable summer quaff. Ok so it won’t look in place on the top tables of the finest dining clubs or officers’ messes but it is ideal for the hot summer BBQs.
Rosé has even more talents, it makes a perfect spritzer and I would recommend a rosé cocktail. However it is not all about taste, rosé is a pretty good looker as well and is a pleasing sight in the finest crystal or picnic plastic goblets. So don’t worry about the wine snobs go and buy some; don’t spend much and go for a young wine. Cheers strictlypinkstuff
