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Roses & Rosé
With warmer weather right around the corner, we thought we'd revisit these pro tips from local artist and floral designer Buffy Hargett and celebrated author and chef, Scott Jones of Jones Is Thirsty Wine Education Business. Learn some insider tips on arranging flowers and some truths about rosé. Scott Atkinson, formerly of the Mountain Brook Western Supermarket Wine Department, is now pouring out his wealth of wine knowledge at the Crestline Piggly Wiggly. Here are his top rosé picks so get ready to enjoy the fleurs and flavors of Roses and Rosé!
Scott Atkinson, Wine Manager/Alcoholist at The Piggly Wiggly of Crestline, shown here with Kylie the Wine Koala. To stay up to date on all things happening at The Piggly Wiggly Crestline Wine Department follow them on Instagram.
Top Rosé Picks for this Season
Scott Atkinson may not know much about picking flowers, but he sure knows a lot about picking wines. Scott recommends the following rosés for sipping and pairing with light bites. Oh, and there’s even a budget-friendly box wine that he says to file under "just can’t get enough."

Coming Soon

2018 Schloss Gobelsburg Cistercian – this is a beautifully balanced and elegant rosé. We have been extremely impressed by this Austrian rosé year in and year out. It has the fruit and minerality that most people are seeking in a classic rosé, but it is amazingly, lip-smackingly, delicious.

2018 Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris – no list of rosé wines in Birmingham would be complete without the "gold label" rosé. Most rosé wines are, by design, not available all twelve months of the year. The Fontsainte is one of the few that is only available for about three months. This is, simply, one of the finest rosé values on the planet.

The First Wave of 2018s

2018 Villa Wolf Rosè of Pinot Noir – the link is for the 2017, but it is a consistent wine from year to year. Pinot Noir facilitates a lighter style of rosé, and the Germans do a great job of keeping the freshness and vibrancy of this grape at the forefront. This is a perfect "go-to" value rosé as the weather warms up.

2018 Moulin de Gassac Guilhem – some folks feel that the first obligation of rosé is to be French. We understand this analysis, and the Guilhem is a textbook example of why. There are some other great rosés out there, but this is proof that the French truly know what they are doing. A "no-brainer" choice on rosé.

Favorites from 2017

2017 La Nevera Gran Vino Rosado – yes. We are recommending a "bag-in-a-box" rosé which retails for $20. The Spanish stunner is designed to live in your refrigerator (La Nevera is Spanish for "The Fridge") and is an absolute crowd pleaser. It is dry, yet has just enough fruit. It is crisp with minerality, yet is not aggressively stony or acidic. File this under "just can’t get enough."

2017 Whispering Angel – there is a reason that everyone asks if we have this wine. It may be $25, but it is very well-made. It has enough fruit for someone who unconvincingly claims that they don’t like wine, but it is dry and balanced enough for the snobby rosé fan.

Local artist and floral designer Buffy Hargett | Photo by Jean Allsopp
Arrange Like a Pro
With a few tips from floral designer Buffy Hargett, you can master the basics in no time.

• Buy your flowers a couple of days before an event, cut the stems immediately, and store in a cool space. This will allow the blooms time to open up.
• Combine several shades of one color for a monochromatic effect that still has a wow factor. Mix in a variety of textures, such as delicate blooms with heavier succulents.
• Floral arrangements at a dinner table should include only blooms without scents so as not to compete with or distract from the aromas of the meal.
• Find a container that works for your table and learn how to create an arrangement to fit it. Then stick with that design—your own signature arrangement—for every event.
Author and chef, Scott Jones of Jones Is Thirsty Wine Education Business | Photo by Jean Allsopp
Fun Wine Wisdom from Scott Jones
Did you know?

• Sutterhome White Zinfandel was a happy accident. Love it or hate it, it’s still one of the most successful wines ever made, says Scott.
• Rosé is a color, not a grape. The color of a wine comes from the skin of the grape rather than from the juice.
• European rosés are dryer than US varieties, which tend to be sweeter.
• The lightest—and sweetest—wine is Moscato d’Asti.
• Rosés should be enjoyed right away rather than aged. Serve at room temperature. (Cold mutes the flavors.)
• Serve champagne as cold as possible. If the champagne froths when you open it, it’s not cold enough. While all that bubbly looks festive, to serve properly, you should allow only a little of the bubbly (called perlagé) to make a topping in your glass.
• Open bottles of wine may be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To bring red wine to serving temperature after it has been in the refrigerator, Scott suggests placing it in the microwave for 15 seconds. Seriously.
• Wine—especially red—IS good for you in moderation. It can help lower your blood pressure and is filled with healthy antioxidants.
• Take a laid-back approach when serving wine. You don’t need all the different size glasses to enjoy it.

Click here to read the full article online and learn how to create the perfect charcuterie board plus some sweet treats to enjoy, too!

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