Stobi Rosé 2014

When I discovered that the Stobi Winery were producing a rosé I had to try it and I wasn’t disappointed. This wine is most unlike any rosé wine I have tasted. It is extremely versatile and matches very well with a lot of flavours. When I poured a small amount into the glass to smell, I didn’t get much on the nose but was in awe of the beautiful colour, which comes from the beautiful bright purple colour of the Vranec grapes. The colour was much brighter and richer than other rosé wines that I had enjoyed and to illustrate this point, I took a photograph of the Stobi Rosé from Macedonia standing next to an English rosé that I happened to have in the fridge. The contrast in colour is clear to see with the Stobi rosé being a very attractive bright and vibrant dark pink compared with the amber of the English rosé. On the palate, the first thing that struck me was the low acidity and softness with a very pleasant and delicate red berry taste. When the glass is empty, there is an amazing aroma of rhubarb. The low acidity makes this wine a perfect easy drinking wine with friends on a summer’s day. There was nothing sweet or frivolous about this wine and I knew immediately that as well as being an enjoyable wine to relax with it would also stand up to strong flavours. This is because it is produced from the bold Vranec grape blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.

I served Stobi rosé with two types of grilled, marinated lean pork kebabs, long grain rice, garnished with fresh coriander and a small salad of lettuce, homemade sun dried tomatoes – (dried in the oven), black olives and feta cheese. The lean pork was marinated for 2-3 hours. The first marinade was olive oil, garlic, fresh lemon juice and a mixed spice called Ras el Hanout from North Africa, which is available in all main stream supermarkets. The first set of pork kebabs were skewered with red pepper and red onion. The second marinade was olive oil, honey, stem ginger syrup, white wine, cider vinegar and garlic and the kebabs were skewered with yellow peppers and sliced stem ginger. The food was delicious and matched with the wine perfectly. The Stobi rosé complimented the flavours in the food beautifully and didn’t overpower and it was very refreshing. I usually drink rosé with antipasti, salad or strawberries and drink it at lunchtime but this robust rosé is an excellent food wine and will pair well with foods that you would eat in the evening rather than a light lunch. This makes it a truly versatile wine, good for sharing with friends without food, great for BBQs and light lunches as well as serving at a dinner party. Just steer clear of too much fat and acidity in the food.

Like me you will have to order this delicious Stobi Rosé on line. Try https://www.flagshipwines.co.uk/ or http://www.turtonwines.co.uk

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