Tinseltown’s enviable weather always calls for outdoor revelry — from Malibu beach gatherings to Bel-Air poolside soirées. And nothing pairs better with that sun-kissed, late-summer shimmer than a chilled blush or golden-hued pour, handpicked by Hollywood’s wine insiders.
“I personally drink more white and rosé than red, regardless of the season. I think it’s a shame that there’s a perception that they’re less sophisticated than reds. My first loves in wine include great Provençal roses,” says Adam Hopkins, wine director for industry-frequented Toscana Restaurant Group’s Nella and SY Kitchen. “Good rosé is also one of the most versatile and food-friendly wines.”
Perfectly Provence
While rosé is one of the warm weather season’s most popular libations, it’s also a year-round go-to thanks to its structure and complexity. “Rosé continues to reign as Queen — and it’s easy to see why,” says Rebecca Phillips, sommelier and owner of Buvette and Vintage wine bars. “That gorgeous pink hue adds an extra layer of joy to the experience — something lovely and delightful before you even take a sip. It’s crisp and refreshing with juicy red fruit notes.”
Mineral-tinged Provence rosé is still the gold standard. “And for good reason — with producers like Domaines Ott and Domaine Tempier,” adds Phillips. “The region has been doing it forever, with a style that’s effortless and elegant. But now that rosé is so popular, winemakers everywhere are stepping up, and there are some seriously delicious options out there.”
With its typically $25-and-under price point, Whispering Angel helped bring attention to rosé and remains a Provence classic. “Sometimes you don’t want to overthink it — you just want something familiar, like your favorite cozy sweatshirt,” says Phillips. “It’s consistent, easy-drinking and delivers that classic pale Provençal style year after year.” And the Chateau d’Esclans, priced around $48, is a luxury offering from the same producer.
Phillips’ current obsession is Groundwork Wine Co. 2023. “Yes, that’s right: It’s last year’s vintage and it’s still fire,” she says. “Paso Robles 90 percent grenache and 10 percent mourvèdre rosé, this wine is pink lemonade in a bottle. It’s delightfully crisp and refreshing with notes of sea salt, white peach and kiwi fruit.”
Revelatory Rosés
According to Hopkins, rosé wasn’t always taken so seriously. “It was just a ‘quick-turnaround wine’ to recoup investment as soon as possible after a harvest, and to put on grocery store shelves.” But rosé has evolved. “I’m seeing more and more small production winemakers purchasing beautiful (and pricey) fruit to make a complex and balanced wine,” he adds. “When Santa Barbara Pinot Noir is the most expensive grape, it’s inspiring to see someone buy it and put a lot of work into making an amazing rosé that the larger market isn’t clambering for. Trippers & Askers just released one such rosé.”
Swoon-worthy, small production rosés are aplenty and right here in our own backyard, as Hopkins notes. An embarrassment of grape-growing riches, wines from Santa Ynez Valley (in Santa Barbara County) are sought after by Michelin-star restaurants and collectors around the world. Demetria’s 100 percent Grenache Rosé is a crisp and refreshing crowd pleaser from resident winemaker Ryan Roark. Even better is sipping Demetria’s wines at their Mediterranean-studded Los Olivos estate in Santa Ynez Valley. “Demetria is one of my favorite wineries to visit, and the rosé is crushable,” says Hopkins. “I recommend going there if you’re ever in Santa Ynez. It’s casual and in a beautiful setting.” Another knockout rosé with an equally striking setting is Dovecote in Los Alamos. With a lakeside, open air tasting room overlooking the vines, you’ll want to linger here all afternoon.
Other rosés destined to make an impression at your next gathering include Tabalipa No. 1 Rosé. From Hollywood costume designer turned vintner, Paula Tabalipa, it’s made from 100 percent estate-grown Syrah. Bella Union Rosé, founded by the team behind the legendary Far Niente Winery in Napa will also entice. And Four Brothers Rosé Grenache is one of the juiciest offerings and oozes notes of watermelon and strawberry. Delectable and even restorative, this wine is the quintessential porch pounder.
Wine appraiser Melissa L. Smith is “absolutely head over heels for” Xander Soren. With an emphasis on crafting wines designed for pairing with delicate Japanese cuisine, winemaker Shalini Sekhar sources from vineyards along the California coast. “They snuck in a limited bottling (250 bottles in total) of Pinot Noir Rosé that is truly a special experience,” she says.
Wondrous Whites
Rosé may rule, but according to Phillips, white wine sales are way up at both Buvette and Vintage. “As a sommelier, I’m loving the shift; white wine isn’t just a starter or a ‘light’ option anymore,” she says. “People are getting curious, pairing it with entrées and really appreciating how vibrant, complex and food-friendly it can be.”
Her warm weather must-have is Txakolina (pronounced chah-kuh-leena) made from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape in Spain’s rugged Basque Country.
“Sea spray and steep coastal vineyards create wines that are light, zippy and refreshing. Think tart lime zest, a kiss of salinity and the crisp ocean air in every sip,” she says.
If you’re longing to break out of your white-wine comfort zone, Sonja Magdevski of Clementine Carter Wines to the rescue with her Grenache Blanc (and lip-smacking Grenache Rosé). “Sonja is making impressive wines. She does a roussanne that is stellar, which is something I’ve rarely seen made in this area as Santa Barbara seems to be a difficult place to make a white wine that’s floral and textured, while having the tension and acidity necessary to keep it balanced,” says Hopkins.
Smith, who is also the founder of Enotrias Elite Sommelier Services, appreciates the resurgence of wines that are low in alcohol, a plus as you sip under the sweltering sun. One of her favorites is Tessier’s Monterey Skin Contact Gewurtztraminer from Kristie Tacey: “Imagine you are on a river cruise on the Mosel with a grilled sausage on a soft roll with beetroot kraut on a hot evening,” Smith says. “This is summer perfection.” Phillips is also enamored with Tessier wines. “Kristie Tacey is a scientist turned winemaker who makes beautifully expressive, juicy, unique wines full of flavor and dimension. I’m continually impressed when I try each vintage,” she adds.
McKinney Family Vineyards in Los Olivos
Courtesy of Brand
Venture off the beaten path with Kings Carey, from winemaker James Sparks. “The 2022 SBC Semillon, made in a Hunter Valley style, is full of rich Meyer lemon, tart green apple, ripe pear, pineapple and fresh green herbs,” says Phillips. And Siren from McKinney Family Vineyards is a luscious blend of viognier, albariño, grüner veltliner and sauvignon blanc. If you’re a “Sauvi B” purist, head straight to Future Perfect. “Bursting with creativity, rooted in place and full of personality, [the wines] are vibrant, expressive and downright delicious. Don’t miss [the] Breakfast Wine.”
A classic that has experienced a bit of a backlash over the last few years, chardonnay is having a moment, but not the oak-drenched style. “I know what you’re thinking — chardonnay? Isn’t that usually buttery, oaky, and rich? Not this one,” Phillips says. “The 2023 Tyler Chardonnay is all about tension and energy. It’s crisp, electric, and mouthwatering — you take a sip and immediately want another.”
If you can get your hands on a bottle, Kosta Browne’s Chablis Premier Cru Chardonnay is a triumph as are McKinney’s Queen Charlemagne and Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay, the icon celebrated for taking home the grand prize at the famed Judgement of Paris in 1976. And Hopkins is smitten with Racines. “They’re making the most delicious, complex, elegant and balanced chardonnay I’ve had in the area. It’s refreshing and serious — not buttery or overripe.”