Rose wine has been synonymous with romance, and it’s easy to know why. This light and fruity drink invites you to relax, let loose, and just enjoy life’s simple pleasures. 

But drinking such a delicate type of wine can also be tricky sometimes. In fact, you have to be careful with choosing dishes to eat with your wine. This also means avoiding these foods that will spoil the experience for you. 

• Butter-based or creamy dishes. One rule of thumb to keep in mind when pairing rose wine with food is to avoid any dish that has creamy or butter-heavy sauces, like pasta with white sauce or most of the French dishes with those heavy creams. This is because cream and butter are so rich that they will overpower the delicate flavour profile of rose.

• Rich dishes. The goal of pairing rose wine with food is that you need to find the perfect balance of flavours between the two. Rich dishes with very bold flavours and thick sauces can easily overwhelm the palate that you won’t get to appreciate the delicate flavours of the wine that you’re drinking.

• Red meats. If you’re cooking steak, stews and any strong red meats, you should choose another type of wine and not rose because, again, these dishes will easily overpower the light and fruity flavours of your wine. Rose is ideally paired with white meat and seafood that complement its sweetness very well. 

• Spicy dishes. Spicy dishes or even those that are spiced with a lot of herbs usually don’t go well with lighter wines like rose. Instead, you can opt for a darker and richer wine like a classic red or chardonnay. 

Now if you’re wondering what goes well with rose wine, here are a few suggestions:

• Light salads. Rose wine, especially the off-dry variety, is perfect when paired with a light meal like a fresh salad that balances its sweetness and tanginess.

• Seafood. If there’s one protein that pairs best with rose wine, it has to be seafood. Choose lobster, tuna or salmon that’s not too fatty and rich to complement the lightness of your drink. It’s also very important to be mindful when choosing a seafood dish to pair with your rose, avoiding those that are grilled or fried because they can overwhelm your palate easily.

• Dessert. Rose wine is best paired with sweet desserts because of its sweet flavour profile. You could enjoy chocolate-covered strawberries, a decadent cake or even ice cream, and you can guarantee that it will pair just well with your glass of rose wine.

Finally, make sure that when buying rose wine, you’re choosing the best varieties that you can find on the market. To make this possible, find a supplier that has a huge selection of rose wine varieties from around the world. Always go for quality so you can appreciate the delicate yet decadent flavours of the best rose wine. After all, you deserve the treat.