American Rosés For The Win[e]

No matter on which side of the aisle you sit, there’s one thing most Americans can agree on: July 4 is a big, beautiful grill day. Whether you’re hosting or attending, having dogs and burgers or chicken and ribs, there’s an rosé wine to go with your party, proudly made in the US of A.

Banshee Rosé 2023, Sonoma County. Fun label features an illustration of a Griffith, giving this a kind of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings whimsical vibe. But the blend is serious: 46% Pinot Noir, 25% Sangiovese, 20% Petite Sirah, 3% Black Muscat, 3% Carignan and 2% Syrah, sourced across vineyards and appellations. It leans toward the candied end of the spectrum, so this might be a good gateway to a more sophisticated wine for those to younger drinkers (21 and older, of course!) who are stuck on oversweet sips. And the label is a fun way to lure them in, too. But it’s a pleasing wine for anyone who shies away from high acidity.

Bricoleur Vineyards Kick Ranch Vineyards 2023, Sonoma County. A little heavier in structure and alcohol (13.7%), you’ll want this gold-colored Grenache-driven rosé with a cheese smash burger. Tinges of sweet stone fruit and tangerine make this a nice partner to sweet and sour ribs, cause you are having those, aren’t you?

Chamisal Vineyards “Marlene” Rosé 2023, California. Sources from grapes five miles from the Pacific Ocean, this shows some cool-climate freshness. Sustainably produced and a reliable bottle to bring to a gathering, it leans on the light and tropical side of the rosé spectrum, with melon and grapefruit tones.

Copain Wines “Les Voisins” Rosé of Pinot Noir 2024, Anderson Valley Mendocino County. Earthy with fresh raspberry and tart cherry, this is a sophisticated mineral-driven rosé. Lots of acid makes this a little on the austere side—not a plush and lush sip—but that’s what you want on a hot summer day. Fresh tropical fruits and pink grapefruit make this a lovely aperitivo.

Ferrari-Carano Dry Sangiovese Rosé 2024, Sonoma County. I always like tasting the wines from this producer – they are consistently pleasing and reliable for any occasion. This one is a market-fresh fruit bowl of red fruits—strawberry leads the way—and blood orange. Drink on its own or with the grilled dogs or, if you’re fancy, bratwurst and sausage.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Finger Lakes. It’s always a pleasure to taste the wines from this upstate New York pioneer. The vines in this established Euro-centric (but true to Finger Lakes) winery are some of the oldest in the U.S. The 2024 Dry Rosé, is a delicate and fleshy-preached-tone blend led by Saperavi and Pinot Noir, with pops of grapefruit and strawberry. Fresh and summery! Drink on its own or with crispy-skinned grilled dogs or a composed salad. The Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir is a copper-penny pink wine that delivers dried raspberries and cranberries and a bit of young cherry – tart and structured. Have this with grilled shrimp or a composed summer salad of roasted broccolini and tomatoes. The Dry Rosé of Saperavi leverages one of Georgia’s native grapes, this is a go-between of red and Rosé – more structured and wanting a firm food partner from the grill—or a Georgian/Mediterranean inspired menu.

Frank Family “Leslie Reserve” Rosé of Pinot Noir 2024, Carneros, Napa Valley. Copper-penny pink, this is a fresh strawberry-inflected rosé layered with tropical fruit notes such as guava and grapefruit. Dry and on the structured side, don’t be afraid to pair with a burger or sticky ribs.

Inman Family Wines “Endless Crush” Rosé of Pinot Noir, OGV Estate, Russian River Valley. Kathleen Inman’s love letter to her husband and to rosé is a deeper-pink-hued wine that lends good structure to food on the grill. Pretty ripe strawberries and red bush fruit, delicate—even with the structure—and a consistently reliable wine that overdelivers and impresses.

Matanzas Creek Winery Rosé of Malbec, Sonoma County. An earthy partner to grilled seafood and burgers (beef or turkey). Strawberry-driven, a bit of bramble. Certified sustainable, aged in stainless steel and neutral French oak. A lower-alcohol offering at 11% and a nice “plays nice” with everyone kind of wine.

Pedernales Cellars “Aletheia” Rosé 2024, Texas High Plains. Aletheia means “truth” and this blend of 50%/50% Mourvèdre and Grenache does, indeed, speak its truth as a straight-talking dry rosé with plenty of red fruit. Not everything in Texas is big, as this wine proves: it is a lighter interpretation of the Rhone grapes and delivers a delicate, fresh red-berry sip that rivals the south of France in sophistication.

Spicewood Estate Rosé of Grenache 2024, the EB Vineyard, Texas Hill Country. From a pioneer in Texas, this is light pink in hue, tart grapefruit leads the way with other tropical fruits providing a smooth underlay. The dry wine is, overall, fresh with a snappy personality. A bit of Carignan and Graciano in the mix.