European rosé pairs best with these types of dishes: 25 tips

Can't summer last long enough for you? One of the ways I hold on to that holiday feeling is by recreating the most delicious dishes I ate under the French sun this summer at home. Naturally, with a nice glass of European BOB rosé! As an ambassador, I've tasted the most delicious rosé-food pairings this year. Time to take you on a journey through the world of Europe's finest rosé wines!

This is what you want to know about BOB rosé from Europe

This year, as a BOB Rosé ambassador, I took a wonderful wine trip to Provence, which I still think back on often. I visited several wineries, and it was during this trip that I truly discovered rosé. How do you recognize quality European rosé, and what does the color tell you, for example? In this article, I'll tell you all about it!

I can hear you thinking… PDO rosé? What does PDO mean? PDO stands for "Protected Designation of Origin," and it's a European quality label for agricultural products from a specific geographical area with typical characteristics. Examples of rosés with a PDO label are those from the Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, Coteaux Varois en Provence (France), and Valtènesi (around Lake Garda in Italy). You can recognize this rosé by the PDO quality label on the bottle, also called AOC (or AOP) in France and DOC (or DOP) in Italy. PDO rosé is therefore only produced in Europe in these specific designated geographical areas. This year, I discovered that the production of this rosé is pure craftsmanship, and the rules are strictly defined.

This is how BOB rosé is made

Red grapes are used to make PDO rosé. While Italians around Lake Garda primarily use Groppello for their PDO rosé, in Provence the most popular red grape varieties are Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Tibouren, and the most famous white grape used is Rolle. PDO rosé is recognizable by its beautiful palette of pink colors and flavors. One of the biggest myths about rosé is that its color is created by blending red and white wine. This is completely untrue! Rosé is made from red grapes, whose flesh is transparent, just like white grapes. The color of rosé comes from the red pigment in the grape skins.

These are the perfect moments to drink BOB rosé

Let's be honest: isn't a glass of rosé truly best enjoyed with friends? Whether it's on a patio, while boating, in the park, at the beach, or at home... for me, rosé is synonymous with conviviality! Put the bottle in the fridge a few hours beforehand. Planning a get-together? This summer, I bought some really handy wine coolers with built-in cooling elements that you can put in the freezer. This way, the BOB rosé stays at the perfect temperature. Because the very last thing you want is ice cubes in your rosé!

25 dishes that pair perfectly with BOB rosé

One of the most frequently asked questions about rosé is which food pairs best with it. I have good news: BOB rosé is truly a crowd-pleaser and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes. From appetizers to desserts, these are the pairings you'll want to keep in mind.

• Rosé & appetizers: From soups like gazpacho to a plate of delicious antipasti, rosé also pairs beautifully with salads.
• Rosé & vegetables: From bell peppers and tomatoes to eggplant, zucchini, or mushrooms, European rosé wines are vegetables' best friends. One of my personal favorite pairings for drinks is artichoke with a delicious dip and BOB rosé!
• Rosé & Meat: Traditionally, you'd pair red wine with red meat, and white wine with white. A PDO rosé beautifully bridges the gap between these two meats. A fuller-bodied rosé can even pair with spicy game dishes or lamb, for example. Serving duck or veal? Then choose a more elegant rosé. Furthermore, almost any rosé pairs well with chicken!
• Rosé & fish and shellfish: This is by far the pairing I most often order a PDO rosé with when dining out. Nothing beats a seafood platter and a chilled glass of rosé on the patio! Honestly, a PDO rosé pairs well with almost anything from the sea. From sea bass straight from the salt crust to sole, mussels, shrimp, and anchovies.
• Rosé & desserts: are you team sweet dessert or team cheese board? I'm on the latter! BOB rosé pairs well with mild to strong cheeses, like goat cheese, sheep's cheese, or even Parmesan. For those with a sweet tooth, a pairing with a dessert featuring apricots or figs is the ultimate treat! Yum!

Have fun planning your next dinner or drinks date while enjoying a fine bottle of BOB rosé wine from Europe!

With love,

Anne

In collaboration with BOB rosé