Pink season is here. The first day of summer is the perfect excuse to reach for the rose. The only question is which one? Hollywood Reporter He asked Hollywood wine insiders for their top picks.
“Rosé is the true embodiment of having summer in your glass,” says Marty Sullivan, wine director at Leila at MacArthur Place. Nobody wants this Creator and executive producer Erin Foster and actress Hannah Simone were also spotted. “On a hot day, there’s nothing more thirst quenching than a cold cup of rosé infused with the flavors of all my favorite summer fruits from watermelon, strawberries and nectarines.”
California is home to an abundance of desirable small-production roses. Adam Hopkins, sommelier at Toscana Group’s Hollywood-frequented SY Kitchen and a fixture between Emmy Award-winning casting director Nikki Falco, Universal Music Group’s JJ Corsini, and Alicia Moore, aka P!nk (who’s almost too perfect here), describes Demetria’s 100 percent Grenache Rosé as “fresh, precise, and endlessly drinkable.” Meanwhile, the Roblar rosé – made from Syrah, Grenache and Petite Syrah – is bursting with fresh berry notes.
At Taste of Santa Rita Hills, a boutique tasting room in Los Olivos, multi-hyphenate Charlie Hunnam and Justin Hartley mingle with serious wine enthusiasts seeking rare bottles from some of the region’s most iconic producers. Owners Michael Robinson and his wife, Marilyn, have strong opinions about what deserves a place on their shelves. “We only select specific types of roses that are made with the utmost care and are at a higher price [over $40]because consumers are so accustomed to a market flooded with lower-priced bottles.
One of the Robinson family’s favorite castings is by Paul Lato. “Their Pinot Noir rosé from a single, well-planted vineyard is one of the best out there. It’s rich with a deep salmon color and bite on the finish.” His other recommendation is the 100% Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon from Moretti, their house label, made with fruit from Crown Point, the Santa Ynez Valley’s prized cab producer. “She’s light and scrawny but she’s got a backbone.” He’s also enamored with Justin Willett’s Lieu Dit (lyoo-dee) rosé from Tyler Wines. “It is very transparent and vibrant with salinity – a perfect hot day for drinking wine.”
Although often the warm-weather wine of choice, rosé can also provide depth and complexity, shaped by the nature and structure of the red grape’s origins. “It is one of the most adaptable wines that reflects the best qualities of each season, and it is also one of the most versatile wines to pair with food,” Sullivan adds.
Bartender Rebecca Phillips, who worked with recording artist W.M Sound Three-time winning coach Niall Horan and Love Island in the USA Host Ariana Madix points out Storm Wines’ Grenache Rosé, which is the drink of choice Barbie Producer Robbie Brenner. “Fresh and lively, Ernst Sturm’s wines have beautiful minerality, nuance and tension; they are sophisticated in an Old World style.” She is also a fan of Alma Rosa’s Vin Gris. “Delicate and beautiful on the nose with a linear, clean palate, it’s very good.” Another highlight is Jessica Gaska’s story of Soil Rosé for Pinot Noir. “Her wines are pure, honest, full of passion, and above all, delicious.”
Future Perfect rosé, which also ranks among Phillips’ must-try bottles, has attracted a loyal following including Hollywood heavyweight Jeffrey Deitch. “I admire all the wines that actress and winemaker Sunny Deunsch Stricker makes,” says Stricker. “She adds a lot of value and color with the energy she puts into making them, and it shows. Designed in a light, French-inspired style, they are made from Grenache grapes that are harvested early to preserve the bright acidity and keep the alcohol levels low. “It’s my version of spring and summer water, and you can drink it all day long.”
At Rustic Canyon and its family of restaurants, dining institutions in Tinseltown, wine director Catherine Coker is particularly enthusiastic about the latest sparkling rosé from Kings Carey for James Sparks, whose wines have found an admirer in film producer Jeffrey Chernoff. Each Pinot Noir, made with fruit often sourced from prestigious Spear Vineyards, is “dry, crisp with body and very refreshing – that’s always a favorite,” says Coker.
Sullivan highlights three of the most notable wines from Napa’s far north: “I have yet to meet a wine from Benovia Winery that I haven’t liked.” “Their Pinot Noir rosé is a beautiful example of the vibrant flavors that the Russian River can offer, but in a very refined and airy way that makes this wine perfect for a picnic.” He is also a fan of Bouchaine’s Vin Gris from Pinot Noir. “The climatic influences of the Carneros AVA give this wine vibrant fruit flavors but with racing acidity.”
Chateau St. Jean’s Rosé of Pinot Noir has exceptional sips. “One of the best rosés I enjoy during the summer, day or night. It’s packed with flavors of juicy watermelon and fresh strawberries and the perfect companion to a fully loaded hot dog right next to the grill!”
With temperatures rising, this is the perfect time to drink wines with modest alcohol levels designed for easy drinking refreshment during long summer afternoons. “It tends to show brighter acidity, and because it has fruit and is lower in alcohol, you can enjoy more than one bottle,” Sullivan adds. “Some that caught my attention were the unfiltered Las Jaras Superbloom rosé and the Kivelstadt Cellars ‘Wondering’ Sparkling Brut Rosé.”
At Morihero, the famous Michelin-starred restaurant where Gwyneth Paltrow dined, general manager Tim Lane was particularly enthusiastic about the rosé from Xander Soren, whose two-decade tenure at Apple preceded his move into the wine industry. “It complements everything from seasonal carpaccio and chilled nanbanzuki to richer dishes like gomadari tofu – and its low ABV makes it an easy way to start a meal.”
