Knowing your way with rose wines

The delicate color of rose wines have made them favorites for Valentine's Day dinner pairings.

The pink hue can range from a pale "onion-skin" orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grape varietals used and the wine-making techniques. There are several ways to produce rose wine, including skin contact and blending. Wineries that focus on rose production use the skin-contact method: Black-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, up to three days. Rose wines are made from a wide variety of grapes and can be found all around the globe. They may be still, semi-sparkling or sparkling.

China Daily asked wine consultant Vance Yeang of Global Fine Wines in Shanghai to recommend moderately priced options in different styles - sweet, aromatic dry and dry - for romantic sipping.

"I've recommended three different rose wines from less-known regions, but these wineries produce good quality wines," he says.

Sweet:

Brown Brothers Moscato Rosa (145 yuan or $21)

Established in 1889, Brown Brothers is a highly successful and innovative family-owned winery from Victoria, Australia.

Rose-petal and red-berry aromas along with freshly crushed grapes and a spicy perfume dominate the nose. These characters follow through to the palate along with a fruitiness that is balanced by acidity and spritz.

Aromatic Dry:

Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rose (180 yuan)

Kanonkop Estate has been producing some of South Africa's most premium wines. It has accumulated international awards for over more than a decade.

Delicate aromas of cherry and strawberry lead the nose and carry through onto the palate with a bit more intensity. Flavors of red cherry and plum skin stay through the finish.

Dry:

Masi Rosa dei Masi (201 yuan)

Masi produces modern, pleasant, well-balanced and recognizable Italian wines that have earned recognition for having "revolutionized the art of wine-making in the Veneto".

A beautiful, clear, light-coral rose with spiced raspberry aromas. The palate gives a herbal hint of raspberries, refreshing and not too sweet. It's crisp and mouth-filling with a herbal red-berry finish.