A rosé-coloured history
The history of rosé is like one of those stories where good triumphs over evil. And despite the fact that today its colour fills the profiles on Instagram, there was a time when sommeliers dared to leave it off of their menus. What is it about rosé that never fails to disappoint?
If we go back in time, to see ourselves sitting in a classy restaurant, drink in hand. The 90's are in full swing and the world of wine is at its peak. There is no social media (what did we do with so much free time?) and we looked for information in newspapers. These always had a space dedicated to wine reviews, which as we know, brings prestige. No one knows for sure what tears of wine are or why barrels are important, but everyone pretends to be an expert a little... If you remember this image you will also feel the bottles of red wine around you that your friends brought to dinners. A white, “in case we had fish”, they said and little else. Where was the rosé hiding?
It was definitely an after-thought. The ones who didn't drink asked for it. The ones who wanted to toast and “wet their lips”. Rosé was relegated to the bench, waiting for its debut. Until one day, a great talent scout discovered what was hidden in those cupboards. A pale, at times dazzling and always elegant beverage came to light again in the year 2000. As if by magic, American resorts started to include it in their menu and … its flavour took it from there.
In a matter of years rosé became mainstream, as the Americans would say. Popular, as we would say at home. Like the launch of a Hollywood star, it was spotted on a yacht in Cannes, nombrado el called the “Gatorade of the Hamptons”, served at royal dinners and toasted in infinity pools. Rosé is back where it belongs… in a big way. As happens when something has been hidden from the world for years. With prestige, with glamour, with that elegant touch that only its rosé hue can offer.
France recognised the potential of rosé in the early years of 2000. These were busy years, when they produced more bottles and encouraged sommeliers all over the world to include rosé in their menus. Soon, the rosé revolution also reached Spain, where traditional brands such as Ramón Bilbao and Marqués de Cáceres started to produce their own rosés, becoming the world's largest exporter.
And suddenly, in that fine restaurant we used to go to in the 90's, today they have a beautiful rosé wine list. 2019 seems to be its year, and not because Mr. Pantone insists on showing it off, but because rosé has been the fashionable drink in Ibiza for a few seasons now and it’s finding its way to the tables inside as the cold starts to set in. And you know that whatever’s popular on this island, goes global.
It is in this moment, when rosé is now consumed as it deserves to be. Born Rosé arrives, the rosé of Barcelona. Because if we’re talking about rosé, we cannot help but imagine the beach, the terraces, the joy of the city. Who said it was just to water the lips? Welcome to the Rosé Revolution!
