Rose-Colored Glass

When it comes to a romantic drink, it’s difficult to beat sparkling rosé. Pink bubbles are the epitome of indulgence and romanticism in a glass. And while pouring yourself (or someone else) a glass of bubbly, rose-colored wine is more than acceptable, sometimes it’s fun to make a cocktail with it. But rather than reaching for an expensive bottle of Champagne, try a different kind of bottle: Crémant d’Alsace rosé, as bartender Katie Stipe does with the Rose-Colored Glass.

Crémant d’Alsace rosé is a dry, pink sparkling wine from the French region of Alsace, a northeastern region bordering Germany. Its proximity to the eastern country means the French region produces a good amount of German grape varietals like riesling and gewurztraminer. Crémant is a term describing wines made under the same rules of production as Champagne, known as méthode-traditionelle, but in different regions. A key element is allowing the secondary fermentation to happen in the bottle, which gives the wine its telltale bubbles and yeasty notes, often described as brioche-like or biscuit-like.

Like every region in France, Alsace has strict laws for what varietals can be used. While most white sparkling wines from the region use pinot blanc, Crémant d’Alsace rosé is limited to being made with 100% pinot noir. You can also find Champagne rosé made with 100% pinot noir, though this is rare. Champagnes are much more likely to be blends that include chardonnay and pinot meunier in addition to pinot noir.

Another difference between Crémant d’Alsace and Champagne is the price tag. It’s possible to find bottles of Crémant d’Alsace rosé for under $20, a daunting challenge for a comparable bottle of Champagne. This means Crémant d’Alsace is more suitable for cocktail purposes, as with the Rose-Colored Glass.

The Rose-Colored Glass has a similar base as the classic Champagne cocktail, which calls for a plopping a sugar cube into a Champagne flute, dabbing it with bitters and pouring Champagne, or another sparkling wine, over it. But here, the drink is built with more bitters, simple syrup rather than a sugar cube and lemon juice to add brightness and tartness. A coupe steps in for the traditional flute, and to complete the look, the drink is finished with a rose petal garnish.

The resulting cocktail is bright and bubbly, aromatic and gently sweet. It’s lovely any time of year, but especially for romantic occasions like anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and or any random date night.