{"id":32527,"date":"2018-06-04T16:36:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T23:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/aznightlife\/?p=32527"},"modified":"2018-06-04T16:36:00","modified_gmt":"2018-06-04T23:36:00","slug":"rose-wine-ryan-gardner-house-wine-steward-henry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/aznightlife\/rose-wine-ryan-gardner-house-wine-steward-henry\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything’s Coming Up Ros\u00e9: Q&A With The Henry’s House Wine Steward"},"content":{"rendered":"

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National Ros\u00e9 Day (June 9) is almost upon us and we want to be sure you\u2019re fully prepared to drop all your sophisticated wine knowledge on your friends. And since ros\u00e9 just recently seemed to jump on the popular train of thirsty gals, we needed a little lesson in the pink drink too. To help us out, we turned to Ryan Gardner, the house wine steward at The Henry (umm dream job?) who spends his days spreading the love of wine. He keeps the Reserve List up-to-date with a variety of choices and helps school staff, guests and parties on picking out the perfect vino. And since he\u2019s a third-generation native of Arizona, he knows a thing or two about how to cool down on a hot summer day \u2014 particularly with a glass of ros\u00e9 in your hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep reading to learn what to pair ros\u00e9 with, Ryan\u2019s affordable picks, an easy cocktail recipe and more. You\u2019re welcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

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AFM: What exactly is ros\u00e9? How does it differ from a red or white?
\n<\/b>Ryan Gardner:<\/strong> What is ros\u00e9, you ask? In a word: Delicious. How does it get that happy pink color? To get into that we have to wrap our heads around how wine (all red wine) gets its reddish color. Color comes from the wine\u2019s contact with the skins of the grapes. The longer the contact, the deeper the hues. Ros\u00e9 is made with several red grape varietals (Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, etc.) but instead of being exposed to the skins for days at a time, the fermented grape juice is only in contact for a matter of hours; thus it shows a vibrant pinkish instead of a deep red. <\/span><\/p>\n

AFM: What should a good ros\u00e9 taste like?
\n<\/b>RG:<\/strong> Most ros\u00e9s should sport refreshing, bright flavors of rose petals, rhubarb, and citrus. Perfect for relaxing poolside on a hot day, no? The rise in its popularity comes, in part, from its versatility and ability to be the friend that everyone hopes will show up at the party. Never a bad time when ros\u00e9 is around!<\/span><\/p>\n

AFM: What type of food does ros\u00e9 pair with?
\n<\/b>RG:<\/strong> Like most things in life, it depends on the occasion. The \u201creason for the season\u201d so to speak. At a friend\u2019s party enjoying a charcuterie plate with creamy cheeses and fat-marbled prosciutto? You may want a drier ros\u00e9 (less or no residual sugar) to clear your palate for the next savory, indulgent bite. Digging into crazy Uncle Bob\u2019s atomic guacamole that\u2019s hotter than an Arizona dashboard on an afternoon in July? Try a sweeter ros\u00e9. The residual sugar will cool the palate and get it back into a happy place. Remember: sweet cancels heat!<\/span><\/p>\n

AFM: For someone who knows nothing about ros\u00e9, what\u2019s some foolproof advice on picking the right one?
\n<\/b>RG:<\/strong> Step 1:<\/em> Know your palate! How do I get to know my palate<\/em>, you ask? The answer is fun and simple: Drink more ros\u00e9! Try different styles and see where your preferences play. Once you build a library of options, that\u2019s where the real fun begins!<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 2:<\/em> Check the region! The flavor profile of a French ros\u00e9 of Grenache can differ greatly from a California ros\u00e9 of Pinot Noir.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 3:<\/em> Write it down! An occupational hazard of tasting wine is forgetting the tasting notes! It’s not a crime to have something to go back and reference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 4:<\/em> Remember that no one knows everything about wine\u2026 and that\u2019s ok. Once we embrace this fact it becomes a little more accessible and a lot more fun!<\/span><\/p>\n

AFM: What are your top picks for affordable ros\u00e9s that someone can buy at the store?
\n<\/b>RG:<\/strong> When choosing a wine off the grocery store shelf there\u2019s a couple of things to factor into the equation. Generally speaking, the number on the price tag represents the time, effort and expertise involved in the finished product. You\u2019d be surprised by how much the quality leaps by bumping the acceptable price range from $10-$15 up to $25-$30 and above. Below-$20 picks include Mumm (Sparkling) Ros\u00e9 and Josh (Still) Ros\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n

AFM: What\u2019s an easy recipe for a ros\u00e9 cocktail?
\n<\/b>RG:<\/strong> It is said that one must party to the beat of their own drum and sometimes we go for an inventive way to spruce up an already fine and excellent beverage. Good ros\u00e9 is meant to be enjoyed for its lifted and bright flavors so I recommend that if the perfect move to liven up the moment is to concoct a cocktail made with ros\u00e9, do your best not to spend more than $15 on what will become a cocktail ingredient. Ok, disclaimer over, onward to a fun ros\u00e9 cocktail!<\/span><\/p>\n

Things you\u2019ll need:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n