There should be more Napa Valley rosé.  We live in a Mediterranean climate and eat Mediterranean cuisine.  Most of us live outdoors on our decks and patios in the summer and nothing is more appealing on a hot summer day than a chilled glass of rosé.  Even better?  A dry, ethereal rosé made in the Provencal style of southern France.  France is the world’s largest producer of  rosé with 28% of global production and Provence represents 40% of that.  Americans love these wines apparently, with retail sales of Provence wines rising 28% for the year ending …

US imports of rosé wines grew 42% for the twelve months ending April 2009 compared to 5% growth in the overall table wine category.  This phenomenal increase suggests US consumers’ growing appreciation for dry rosé wines as well as their attractive price point in recessionary times.  Until a few years ago, rosé wines meant domestic white zinfandel or “blush” wines with 25-35 grams of residual sugar.  As consumer tastes have evolved to drier wines and to international wines, many consumers have discovered rosé wines from France.  France is the largest producer of …