This week I had to review a wine that I really enjoyed over the weekend. A few weeks ago I bought a case from Vinomofo with whites, rosés and sparkling wines in a mixed dozen, and this was the first one that I have cracked open to try. I have to say, it was hard deciding between the wines that I got in that box, so much so that I had avoided making the choice. Luckily my partner cracked open a bottle for me, and made up my mind!

I’ve had a bit of a moment with French-style Rosé lately, mainly because I fell in love with the wines in Provence when we were over there in June. I feel bad about this because it means I’ve been a bit blind to other Rosés that are available, and so trying a different style took me out of my French comfort zone into an entirely new Rosé dimension! Or should I say another country…over to Italy.

Those who have read the blog for a while would know that I am a bit biased to all things Italian, so it should come as no surprise that this Italian style Rosato knocked my socks off! It made me remember just how much I love Italian wines, and although I haven’t had a huge amount of Italian Rosé, it made me realise I should drink them more often.

The King Valley strikes again

The wine is the D’Sas 2017 King Valley Rosato. Unfortunately, it is sold out on Vinomofo, but I noticed you can still order it from the winery direct, or in the same mixed case I got here (side note – this is not an affiliate link, I just really love their cases). You know it is popular though if it’s already sold out online. It must mean that I am on to a good thing and makes me think that the second bottle that came in my case probably needs to be saved for later (we’ll see if that actually happens).

Everything about this wine stacked up before I even tasted it. First off, it is from the King Valley aka the hometown of Italian varieties in Australia. The wine itself is also made from Sangiovese grapes, which is one of my favourite varieties. So really I was bound to be biased from the start.

Why I loved it

This wine surprised me with its taste. Unlike the traditional French varieties that are quite dry, this wine was a great balance of dry and fruity. When I say fruity, it wasn’t overly sweet either. Think zesty, fresh fruits that give you a bit of a zing, sort of like a good prosecco. This fruit front is balanced by a bit of dryness at the end to round it out, making it a really delicate wine with a bit of added complexity. Long story short, this wine makes you want to go back for another glass or two.

I think there is a bit of a misconception that there isn’t much complexity when it comes to Rosé, but wines like this show just how different they are. You really can get a large breadth of flavours, heaviness and complexity depending on what Rosé you are drinking, the grape variety, the winemaker and even the region. Although we don’t classify them the same as a red or white wine, there really is a lot of room for great and different wines in this category.

What to enjoy it with

This wine goes great as something to drink before dinner. You really don’t need food with it as the wine is bright and refreshing, so food might almost dull this a little. I really enjoyed having a glass of this while cooking dinner, especially as I was making pasta and drinking a Rosato meant I felt the part.

If you were to pair this with food, I think it would go great with a light pasta. No tomato sauces, but something olive oil based with fresh ingredients. Think simple! Alternatively, I think this wine would also go well with a fresh Summer salad or a light chicken dish. Just depending on what you’re feeling!

Final verdict

This Rosato has opened my eyes to the Italian varieties of Rosé. I don’t know why I closed them, probably because I was so obsessed with French ones. But now I have seen that there are other options out there, and my Rosé horizons are expanded. I mean, anything with Sangiovese is fine by me, and that’s something the French Rosé can’t bring to the table.

This wine is a great option for entertaining, or just enjoying before dinner. It really lends itself to many occasions and is a great option for those lovers of balanced Rosé. If you don’t like them too dry, this wine is for you. And if you don’t want it, I’ll take a few more bottles!