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The Pink Wine Of Puglia: 6 Things to Know about Rosato

Published on: July 1, 2019 | Last Updated on May 27, 2022
Romantic Italian Wines: Rosato

When the weather is warm and meals tend to be lighter, many wine-lovers opt for a chilled glass of rosé. Although rosé wines are produced in different countries around the world (including the U.S), we commonly associate them with the south of France.

That was—before we visited Puglia, an epicenter of pink wine production. Before that, we didn’t even know that Italy produces an esteemed rosé of its own, which is called rosato (pl. rosati).

I recently attended an event sponsored by the AICNY (the association of Italian chefs in New York) and Puglia in Rosé (the association of pink wine producers in Puglia), scheduled to coincide with the Specialty Food Show. Held at the Scavolini Show Room in New York City, five AICNY chefs prepared Pugliese (Apulian) recipes paired with the most famous wines of the region, such as Primitivo, Nero di Troia and others.

Burrata Gnocchi at the event

Burrata Gnocchi at the Scavolino event (Credit: Irene S. Levine)

Serving of gnocchi garnished with white truffles

Serving of gnocchi garnished with white truffles

Porchetta

Porchetta Pugliese

That event inspired me to find out more about the rosato wines I enjoyed in Puglia. Here’s are six things to know about the pink wine of Puglia:

1) Is rosato the same as rosé?

Pink Wine of Puglia (Credit: Pugliainrose.it)

Pink Wine of Puglia (Credit: Pugliainrose.it)

Rosato (translated literally, as “pinkish”) is considered the Italian equivalent of rosé wine (or rosado wine in Portugal and Spain) because it shares the same production methods and the same pinkish hue. Yet, Italian rosato wine has a personality of its own because its grapes come from different terroirs than those found elsewhere.

2) Where are Italian rosato wines produced?

In wine-centric Italy, it’s not surprising that excellent rosato wines are produced in several regions including Tuscany, Lombardy, Sicily and Sardinia. But Puglia—the long, narrow region of southeastern Italy whose coastline touches both the Adriatic and Ionian seas—is Italy’s largest producer of rosato wines. It is estimated that 44 percent of the country’s rosato wines comes from this region.

3) Why is so much rosato produced in Puglia?

The fertile soil and hospitable climate of this region are conducive to the growth of more than 20 different varieties of grapes that are used to produce the pink wine of Puglia. These favorable conditions, coupled with a passionate cadre of pink wine producers, have led to the production of a number of fine rosato wines, many of them available for export.

Puglia in Rose is the association that supports the culture of winemaking in Puglia and promotes these wines around the world.

4) How does one pair rosato wines with food?

A chilled glass of rosato makes a delightful and refreshing aperitivo on its own. You might sip it with a handful of taralli, a popular snack in Puglia that has the taste of a breadstick, the crispness of a cracker and the shape of a miniature bagel. Taralli can be sweet (sometimes coated with sugar) or savory (with onion, fennel, garlic, or seeds).

Taralli from Panificio Angelina in Martina Franca, Puglia (Credit: Jerome Levine)

Taralli from Panificio Angelina in Martina Franca, Puglia (Credit: Jerome Levine)

Now considered a four-season wine, rosato wines are extremely versatile and food-friendly, pairing well with appetizers, cheese, pasta, rice, pizza, fish, or meat.

Pink Wine of Puglia: Wine matches with everything (Credit: PugliainRose.it)

Wine matches with everything (Credit: PugliainRose.it)

5) Why are there so many shades of rosato wines?

All rose wines (except sparkling ones) are made from red grapes. The shade of the pink wine depends on a number of factors including the length of time the grapes are macerated in their skins and the coloring capabilities of the grapes. Darker pink wines tend to have more body and a more intense flavor. The wines also differ in their degree of sweetness.

6) Why is the pink wine of Puglia experiencing a surge in popularity?

Pink gin. Pink vodka. Everyone is seeing pink. Some say that the rose wines of Puglia are on track to become the next Prosecco, which experienced a boom in popularity in the US in recent years because it was seen as an economical champagne alternative. The Italian publication Wine News refers to a “Pink Revolution” that has resulted in Italy, and especially Puglia, achieving a robust increase in its overseas market share of rose wines.


To find a top-rated rosato wine:

Check out the rosato wines recommended by WineEnthusiast

To conduct your own in-vivo research:

Visit one of the many wineries in Puglia. The region has mapped wine itineraries, which can be visited by car or bicycle, across its six provinces: Bari (BA), Barletta-Andria-Trani (BT), Brindisi (BR), Foggia (FG), Lecce (LE), Taranto (TA). You can see the itineraries here.

To learn more about rose wines and their history:

  • Check out the Puglia in Rose website.
  • Drink Pink: A Celebration of Rose, by sommelier Victoria James and wine merchant/illustrator Lyle Railsback. One interesting anecdote from the book—“Jacques Pépin, one of the most famous French chefs today, first drank rosé when he was only six or seven years old. ‘It was wonderful,’ he recalls. ‘My father would start putting a tablespoon of rosé in a glass of water, just to change the color a little bit and get a taste of what it is. You have to understand, back then, there was no soda or anything. There was water, and then there was wine. That was it.’
Pink Wine of Puglia: Drink Pink cover

Book Cover: Drink Pink


READ MORE ABOUT PUGLIA

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Matera: A Spectacular City of Stone

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Pink wine of Puglia pin


 

  • Reply
    Kemkem
    July 2, 2019 at 9:12 am

    Lovely post. I enjoy a cold glass of rose with seafood whenever l can indulge. Puglia is an area of Italy l have yet to visit and l will be sure and try some rosato when l do.

    • Reply
      Irene S. Levine
      July 5, 2019 at 4:35 pm

      Could be lovely to visit in autumn, at the time of the harvest!

  • Reply
    Cathy Sweeney
    July 2, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    Although I’ve been to Puglia in the summer, I did not have any rosato. As I sit here sipping a rose from Provence, I am looking forward to checking out a rosato from Puglia next time in the wine store. Thanks for the education.

    • Reply
      Irene S. Levine
      July 5, 2019 at 4:35 pm

      I, too, was shocked that I had never heard of rosato before, especially since it is so popular! Travel is great in expanding your world!

  • Reply
    Debbra Dunning Brouillette
    July 2, 2019 at 9:16 pm

    I LOVE rosé… the French style rosé, that is. I would love to try the Italian rosato to see how it is different. I really enjoyed expanding my knowledge of the “pink” wine!

  • Reply
    Lori
    July 3, 2019 at 2:43 pm

    We love rosé and have to admit to being French rosé snobs. Now that I know about rosato and it’s summertime, time to try something new and pink. Thanks for the info.

    • Reply
      Irene S. Levine
      July 5, 2019 at 4:36 pm

      I haven’t yet looked for it at the wine stores near my home but hope I can find some!

  • Reply
    Sheryl Kraft
    July 4, 2019 at 10:29 pm

    I’ve always loved Rose. I’m so happy it’s becoming more popular and plentiful. Now I need to pair it with that delicious truffle and gnocchi dish!

  • Reply
    Jackie K Smith
    July 6, 2019 at 8:57 am

    Well I have to admit your look at Rosato has made me thirst for some Greek rose! Thank goodness I didn’t read this post until only a few hours away from ‘happy hour’. Great overview of that wonderful looking (and I bet, tasting) beverage!

  • Reply
    Karen Warren
    July 8, 2019 at 4:40 am

    Yet another reason to go back to Puglia! I love the way that rosato matches so well with Italian food.

  • Reply
    Rachel Heller
    July 8, 2019 at 11:41 am

    Like many people, I think, I’ve recently developed a taste for rose, which used to be seen as a somewhat low-class version of wine. But it’s perfecct for warm weather: something about its light flavor is very refreshing and cooling. I’ll make sure to try rosata next time I get the opportunity!

  • Reply
    Antonio @ WineAndOtherStories
    August 31, 2019 at 11:34 am

    Hello Irene,

    Great article! I’m very glad you enjoyed the wines from Puglia, especially its rosati.
    I’m a great fan of pink wines from Puglia, I also wrote an article with 5 wines that I loved this summer:

    https://wineandotherstories.com/five-rose-from-puglia-that-you-should-try/

    They are all from Negroamaro, a grape which has a particular affinity with rose. Have you tried any of them?

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