For Mom, By Mom: Mother's Day Rosé Wines (Made by Moms)

by Gabe Saglie, Senior Editor, Travelzoo
story published in the Santa Barbara News-Press on 5/10/18

A rose by any other name is still a rose. Unless it's rosé.

 

You can’t go wrong with the thorny beauty, a perennial symbol of love and appreciation on any day, especially Mother’s Day. But you can say the same for rosé, the soft-hued quencher that’s finally earning the notoriety among American drinkers that it’s been chasing for years – it has its own trending hashtag, after all, #roséallday! With colors that range from salmon to crimson, and with aromas often aligned with berries and flowers, the easy sipper is as pretty as it is tasty, making it the perfect gift for any thirsty mother. Even better, some of the best rosé in Santa Barbara is made by winemakers who are, themselves, moms. These three options, each one priced at around $25, deserve serious consideration:

 

A Tribute to Grace, 2017 Rosé of Grenache, 2017
Angela Osborne has three young boys, ages 6 months to four years. And yet, this New Zealand native still finds time to craft a thoughtful portfolio of lovely wines. Her Rosé of Grenache is delicate on the nose and bursting with minerality and freshness. Grenache grapes were sourced from Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, 60 miles inland and at an elevation of 3000 feet. The wine was bottled under an Aries moon in February and released in March. Osborne’s label is a tribute to her grandmother, Grace.

 

Carhartt Vineyard, 2017 Chase the Blues Away Rosé
These days, Brooke Carhartt splits winemaking duties with her 29-year-old son, Chase – pretty much 50-50. This familial cooperation, which also includes husband Mike, the Carhartt label’s chief grape grower, has led to one of Santa Barbara’s coolest wine brands. The bouncy and refreshing Chase the Blues Away Rosé, also all-grenache and fermented in stainless steel, was released in mid-April. Aside from ordering it online, that poplar Carhartt tasting room in Los Olivos is the only place where you can get it.

Cambria Winery, Rosé of Pinot Noir

Denise Shurtleff is an empty nester these days, her two adult sons currently pursuing careers outside the wine business. That means more time to focus on vines and wines, a gig she’s had at Santa Maria’s Cambria Winery for more than 15 years. Shurtleff uses estate pinot noir grapes from Julia’s Vineyard for the label’s 2017 rosé, which is smooth and bursting with flavors of strawberry and watermelon.

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

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