It’s not a combination of red and white wines as many people believe, although that type of rosé does exist. And it’s not even new – it has just become a trend recently.
Rose wines have been produced in Southern France since the 6th century BC. They can be manufactured in a variety of ways, but most are made from red varietals whose skins were only allowed to sit in contact with the juice for a brief length of time to add a tinge of color. It’s the reduced amount of time that the skins are left to ferment that gives this wine a light, blush-like color. Leave the skins in longer, and you’ll have a robust red on your hands!
Rosé is not a specific type of grape, either. It can be made from nearly any variety of red wine grape originating from any region. The differentiating factor between most rosé wines is the subtle differences in the grape varietals. Most types of rosé wines are made with a combination of different grape varietals, but you can also find rosé wines made with a single type of grape. The single-varietal rosé is the most common in California.