COLOUR - ROSES
Roses can be made in a variety of ways but the most common is called: Saignee. It is a French term that refers to a light pressing of skins with the juice. Red grapes that are destined to be made into a rose will be lightly pressed, like all wine, and then spend a few hours in contact with their skins. This results in a light pink colour – where red wines will spend a couple of days that gives a much deeper red colour.
The colour of roses depends largely on either the grape used or the amount of time the juice spends in contact with the skins. Like red wine grapes, those with more colouring agents in their skins will results in a darker coloured rose.
NOTE: As roses do not spend that long on their skins yet that is where all the flavour is found, as well as the colour. The grapes used to make roses will often be the most aromatic and fruity grapes. This is why you see a lot of Pinot Noir, Grenache, Merlot or Malbec.
Overall, the colour can change from a light salmon to medium pink to a light orange. The orangey side of the rose spectrum results, usually, from a blending of red and white wines to give an orangey-pink colour.
