We didn't think chocolate could upgrade itself to such astonishing levels of fanciness but we were wrong.
Confectionary company Compartés has created a chocolate bar that tastes like a refreshing glass of our go-to summer wine — just slightly sweeter
It’s white chocolate infused with rosé wine and crystalised rose petals and it has a gorgeous, blush pink hue, making it one of the prettiest booze-flavoured treats we've ever seen.

Forget stuffing your face with a Cadbury's Caramel on a Friday night, this is the ultimate intoxicating whirl of sweet delight.
The treat breaks off into tiny triangles which are perfect for nibbling with a glass of eh... well, rosé.

Unfortunately it's not available in Irish stores but you can purchase it online.
One bar will set you back $9.95 (€8.90) so we'd recommend buying in bulk so you can justify those insane shipping charges.
Oh, and if you think this is the only rosé sweet treat you're mistaken; the Compartés bar joins the ever-growing list of ways to enjoy the summertime beverage.
The craze began earlier in the month when US high-end candy boutique Sugarfina announced they would be introducing rosé gummy bears to their collection.

www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-news/rose-wine-chocolate-is-officially-a-thing-and-its-everything-we-need-34925330.htmlRead the full article here.

Wine maker Vincon Romania forecasts that its rose sales will gain 35 percent this year, as the company has re-launched Rose Verite.

In addition, Rose Verite will benefit of a re-stylized bottle and label, according to the market’s trends.
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For Vincon Romania the rose sales grew in 2015 by 51 percent compared to 2014.

“For 2016 we are estimating a growth of 35 percent compared to last year, a rise that will be felt especially in the mainstream and premium ranges. At the same time, we are estimating that the rose production of this year will be double the one in 2015,” said Gianina Rusu, financial director of Vincon.

According to a study conducted by Nielsen, the rose market in 2015 reached 2 million liters and a value of around RON 52 million.

“The quantity of bottled rose wine consumed in average by a Romanian at home while eating is around 2-3 glasses, while at the restaurant he consumes around 1-2 glasses,” said  Maria Gavrilescu, marketing director of Vincon Romania.

​Read the full article here.

By Liz Giegerich, Westchester Magazine
 
Carol Todd, owner of Wine Geeks in Armonk, tells us what we really need to know about #summerwater

It's almost August, so chances are you’ve seen at least one glass of a pretty, blush-colored wine make an appearance in your Instagram feed with the hashtags #roséallday,#yeswayrosé, or something of the sort proudly typed beneath. Maybe you're even among those who've contributed to the 55,000-plus #roséallday posts (and counting), captured with your Wölffer Estate’s Summer in a Bottle by the pool or ocean.
The refreshing spirit is experiencing a prolonged heyday, which Vanity Fair attributes to everything from The New York Post to Brangelina. But, while the craze has become sort of a joke, even inspiring comedian The Fat Jew to actually produce his own brand, White Girl Rosé, there is a reason for its popularity. Actually, there are lots of reasons. To that end, we asked rosé lover and expert Carol Todd, owner of Wine Geeks Armonk, to tell us what’s up with everyone downing so much of the pink stuff.

What's your take on why rosé has become so popular of late?
We’ve actually found a steady increase in rosé sales over the entire seven years that Wine Geeks has been open, and the rosé-drinking season has extended in both directions, so that it’s now selling well from early spring through early fall. It’s certainly our single best-selling category throughout the summer months, which makes me particularly happy because I’m such a big fan. I think that the backlash against certain mass-produced, highly processed white zinfandels has finally become disassociated from the rosé category, and people are finding through experience and word-of-mouth that rosé is a terrific warm-weather alternative to both white and red wine—it’s refreshing, easy-drinking, and it pairs beautifully with everything from burgers to barbecue to clambakes. Since it’s made from red-skinned wine grapes, but vinified with considerably less skin-contact than traditional red wine, it’s a great option for the red-wine drinker who wants to try something a little lighter and colder for the season.

Rosé has become known as the drink of the summer in the Hamptons. Has that affected its place and price point in Westchester?
I think rosé’s massive popularity surge in the Hamptons has definitely influenced awareness in Westchester. We can see that specifically in the runaway popularity of Long Island’s own Wölffer Estate Vineyards rosé. Although we order multiple cases early in the season, it has completely sold out by the end of May for the last two years running. And I think that availability issue is definitely related to its Hamptons popularity. We also have a fair number of local customers who load up on a case or two of rosé on their way out to the Hamptons because they report that they find the Hamptons' retail selection to be limited and the prices to be higher. Pricing varies widely state by state, but within New York I think it generally stays within a certain narrow industry standard. Variations can be found when wholesale bulk discounts are involved or real estate for shop owners is substantially pricier.

What are the main differences between rosés? 
The flavor profile of rosé wines tend to fall within a somewhat narrower spectrum than the general categories of white wines or red wines. That being said, you can still find some meaningful variations. With some exceptions, Provencal rosé tend to be paler and to show traditional notes of strawberry and white peach, with the more prestigious Provencal appellation of Bandol possibly showing more complex floral notes of lavender and rosé petals. Italian rosés are often darker, showing notes of watermelon, cranberry, and cherry. Portuguese Vinho Verde rosés and Basque Txakolinas tend to be slightly effervescent. Rosés from Sancerre in the Loire valley are always made from Pinot Noir and usually salmon colored, showing elegant notes of wild strawberry, red currant, and rosés. These are all generalizations of course, but decent rules-of-thumb if you don’t have first-hand information.

Read the full article here.

We put three celebrity branded libations to the test, with help from a fine wine specialist at Beverly Hills restaurant Villa Blanca.

Tinsel town’s hottest stars love to diversify their brands, and wine has emerged as a booming business for those in front of and behind the camera. Since rosé has become the trendy summer drink of choice (Sugarfina is even making rose gummie bears this season), we decided to put a few starry brands to the test. Famed director and producer Francis Ford Coppola, actress Drew Barrymore (who also owns the makeup company Flower Beauty) and husband-and-wife team Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are all players in category. How do their pours measure up? 

Read the full story here.

It's quickly gone from being a favorite of little old ladies to a must-have for female millennials, but if you're still not convinced of rosé's trendy appeal, the drink just got a whole lot cooler. Literally.
New York City's Bar Primi has recently debuted an innovative new drink that's a mash-up of two major beverage trends: pink wine and alcoholic slushies.
Called 'frosé', the Italian eatery's frozen rosé has become an instant hit with with patrons, who've already begun flooding Instagram with snaps to get everyone else salivating.
 
​It's quickly gone from being a favorite of little old ladies to a must-have for female millennials, but if you're still not convinced of rosé's trendy appeal, the drink just got a whole lot cooler. Literally.
New York City's Bar Primi has recently debuted an innovative new drink that's a mash-up of two major beverage trends: pink wine and alcoholic slushies.
Called 'frosé', the Italian eatery's frozen rosé has become an instant hit with with patrons, who've already begun flooding Instagram with snaps to get everyone else salivating.

It’s maybe time to take a break from thinking — and watching and reading — about politics and think about food. Because whatever your belief system, this much excitement can make you hungry. Fortunately, there are some pretty great restaurants to go to, including a happy number of them in the same place in Chinatown. This week Jonathan Gold reviews a Filipino pop-up restaurant in the Far East Plaza (home of Chego, Pok Pok Phat Thai and the recently reviewed Howlin’ Ray’s) that’s open only on the weekends.
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In other news, we consider the world of rose wines, a food truck that has some great Southern-style sandwiches, a Hermosa Beach restaurant and some fields of grain a hundred miles north of L.A. — because your grain bowls, loaves of bread and pints of beer have their origins in fields of wheat, rye and barley. – Amy Scattergood

A brief guide to pink wine
Wine writer Patrick Comiskey and a group of local wine experts consider rosé wines --specifically a primer for beginners, experts and weirdos. Yes, weirdos, which is a term used with much wine-drenched love. Writes Comiskey: “Rosés should be very, very dry. If not, then they’re not doing their job, which is to refresh, quench thirst and stimulate the palate.”

www.latimes.com/newsletters/la-dd-counter-newsletter-20160723-snap-story.htmlRead full article here.

Gone are the days of the taboo rosé. This pink wine is on the rise to mainstream in Santa Barbara County.

Rosé got the bad rap for years as being a saccharine sweet wine that was both amatuerish and linked to the memory of waspy, suburban poolside scenes.

However, the rosé of today is sophisticated and often unrivaled on a hot summer day.
France has been producing award-winning rosé wines for years, and now Santa Barbara County has fully embraced the same lifestyle, making pink wines that are praiseworthy from even the snobbiest of French wine tasters.

You can bet your bottom dollar that this self-proclaimed wine snob will be sipping these new favorites this summer, sans the poolside scene.

2015 Star Lane Rosé of Malbec
While grenache rosés are par for the course in this neck of the woods, I found the malbec rosé from Star Lane to be surprisingly unique.
The unusual lime notes are incredibly refreshing and a welcome difference from the standard rosés of the region.
If the temperatures spike this summer, you’ll be glad to have a bottle of this wine waiting for you in the fridge.
Visit the Dierberg & Star Lane tasting room at 1280 Drum Canyon Road in Lompoc.

2015 Epiphany Grenache Rosé
The Fess Parker labels continues to impress.
I’ve written about their sister label, Bubble Shack, in the past and am now equally pleased with Epiphany’s creamy and indulgent grenache rosé.
Visit their tasting room at 2974 Grand Ave. in Los Olivos or check out the new tasting room inside The Fess Parker at 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara.

2014 Martellotto La Rosa Rosé
This striking wine, sourced from the popular Camp 4 Vineyard in the new Los Olivos district, is both memorable and intriguing.
A blend of 60 percent counoise and 40 percent cinsault is what makes this rosé so incredibly unique in flavor yet approachable and refreshing.
Visit the Martellotto tasting room at 65 Los Padres Way in Buellton.

2015 Kaena Grenache Rosé
If you’re looking for a pink wine that has a strong, lingering finish and one that will go well with dinner look no further than this grenache rosé.
I recently discovered this bold pinkie at Bell Street Farm, 406 Bell St. in Los Alamos, and was instantly smitten with how well it paired with meat, specifically the rotisserie pork sandwich.
Sip this one at the dinner table or with charcuterie this summer to fully enjoy its intensity.
Visit Kaena Wine Co. at 2890 Grand Ave. in Los Olivos.

2015 Jamie Slone Rosé
This zesty yet smooth and approachable light-pink wine has been a favorite of mine to keep on hand for guests.
The strawberry notes and bright acidity of this wine makes it great for any occasion, and it will likely go fast this summer.

​Full article here.

Yes, it's what it sounds like: frozen rosé wine!

It's this summer's big drink trend. Icy and boozy at the same time, frosé is a cross between rosé wine and a slushie. It's a playful, childlike treat that's meant only for adults.

Rosé wine has had a huge resurgence in popularity over the last several years and wine slushies have also been appearing here and there. Now bartenders are taking it to the next level and combining the two items. It's not as simple as pouring from fruity rosé into a margarita machine, though.

Bars are putting their own mark on the drink, spiking it with Aperol, fruit, and even flavored vodkas. It's ideal for hot summer days spent on the patio, rooftop, or even hiding in an air conditioned bar.

Read the full story here.

There is an over 14,000 person waiting list to buy these new rosé-infused gummy bears, and honestly, we completely understand the frenzy.
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Sugarfina, a luxury candy company, came out with Rosé All Day Bears, little pink gummies infused with Whispering Angel Rosé. As could be expected, the Internet is freaking out over this magical marriage of wine and candy, the world’s two most beloved items.

The bears sold out in two hours, and thousands more are flocking to the site to add themselves to the waiting list. And before you do the same, we should warn you: the candies will not get you buzzed, despite all the buzz surrounding them. Their alcohol content is 0%. (Bummer, we know. The alcohol vanishes during the manufacturing process.)

Fortunately, it’s easy enough to turn gummy bears into solid candy cocktails — simply soak them in vodka, or whichever alcohol you’d like.

If you don’t feel like waiting in a line of thousands for your rosé bears, you may want to consider Sugarfina’s Champagne Bears, made with Dom Pérignon Champagne. They’re just as cute.

A package of Rosé All Day Bears costs $8.50, and the Yes Way Rosé Roses — gummies that take a precious rose shape — cost $8.50 as well.

​Read the full article here.

By ​Patrick Comiskey | LA Times

What is there to “know” about rosé wines? Grape juice, bled or blended or vinified pink, liberally applied on hot sunny days, made to chill, glug, repeat? Well, yes, that’s about it. Except that the market for rosé, once a trickle, is now a flood so massive it’s practically biblical. And just like the other wine categories, the offerings fall into subsets of quality, style and accessibility. How do you navigate this new pink torrent?
Let’s get a few ground rules out of the way: The first is that rosés should be very, very dry. If not, then they’re not doing their job, which is to refresh, quench thirst and stimulate the palate. Beyond this, it’s helpful to break them all down into three subsets: rosés for beginners (fail-safe bottles to pick up and guzzle down, generous, delicious, soothing); rosés for experts, (a bit more challenging, elusive and serious); and rosés for weirdos (iconoclastic, experimental, odd, delightful — some traditional, some not).
This spring I asked a group of Los Angeles independent wine retailers to suggest wines in each of these categories. As buyers, it’s their daily task not only to navigate the influx of ros but to convey the right wine to the right imbiber. I hit up Lou Amdur (Lou Wine Shop), Jill Bernheimer (Domaine LA), Samantha Dugan (Wine Country), Randy Clement (Everson Royce, Silverlake Wine) and Dan Perrelli (Wine Hotel). Here’s what we came up with.

Beginners:
While dry rosé is made all over the world, its ancestral home is the south of France, and this is where beginners ought to begin. This is warm, Mediterranean France, where the sun is hot, the air is dry, the dining is alfresco and the thirst is nonstop. The warmth of these places — Provence, Corbieres, Lirac, Tavel, Nimes, Ventoux — tends to guarantee a generous fruit profile. Best of all, many are affordable; all of these hover around $15.
Dugan recommends a delicious, accessible wine called Côte Mas Aurore, blending mostly Cinsault and Grenache. That’s a liter, for about $10.
Perrelli selects a Ventoux from Domaine de Fenouillet that blends direct press and saignée Cinsault and Grenache juice for a crunchy, lip-smacking pink (about $12).
Clement suggests a Costières de Nimes Rosé from Chateau Mourgues du Gres called Fleur d'Eglantine, a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Carignane that’s dry, affordable and thirst-quenching (about $12).
Bernheimer recommends a wine from Domaine de Sulauze in Aix-en-Provence called Pomponette, an organically grown Grenache blend that’s warm, refreshing and mildly floral (about $16).

Read more...