This past Saturday, we picked a nice batch of Blackberries from Knapp’s Farm on Greenbluff, WA.  While most of the berries are destined to be eaten fresh, end up in a batch of jam, and become a glorious pie, I had planned to make a savory blackberry glaze for grilled chicken.  The grilled chicken was the main course for a dinner party that included hors’ devours of  grilled, bacon wrapped goat’s milk gouda cheese bites, a cherry tomato orzo salad and a peach-rhubarb cobbler for dessert.

To complement the smoky bacon-cheese bites and the sweet, spicy goodness of the blackberry glazed chicken, while also not overwhelming the tomato-orzo salad, I selected a Washington wine that has become one of our family’s summer-time favorites – Hogue Cellar’s Terroir selection of Sangiovese Rosato.

Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, “the blood of Jove”.   Jove or Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon.   Sangiovese is most famous as the main component of the robust Chianti blend in Tuscany.  In this case, Hogue Cellars expertly reveals Sangiovese’s softer side.

2005 Hogue Terroir Sangiovese Rosato

Technical Information
Fruit	100% Sangiovesse
Vineyards	52% Zephyr Ridge, 48% Pheasant Vineyard
Appelation	52% Horse heaven Hills, 48% Wahluke Slope
Aging	The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely.
Alcohol	13.1%
pH	3.24
TA	0.65
R.S.	0.99 g/100 ml
Production	412 cases
Wine Maker	Jordan Ferrier
Price	Retail: $15.99 Wine Club: $11.70
Winemaker’s Notes	The Sangiovese grapes used in this rosé-style wine, were also the base for a hearty super-Tuscan style Sangiovese.  The rosé wine is ‘bled’ from the primary fermentation when there is a strong pink color and a touch of flavor that would otherwise be lacking in a blanc de noir wine. The lot of rosé from Pheasant Vineyard was chilled near the end of fermentation to stop the yeast prematurely. This contrib- uted the sweetness and a more floral, fruity character to the final blend.

Winery website: www.hoguecellars.com

The next time you reach for a rosé or just want to try something new, consider trying Hogue’s Terroir Sangiovese Rosato.  This is a refreshing wine with a character and depth of flavors not often found in a rosé.  To obtain a bottle (or three) plan on visiting Hogue’s website or their tasting room in Prosser, WA.  The Terroir line of wines is available only at the tasting room or for those who decide to become a member of the Hogue Cellars Wine Club.

Hogue Cellars Wine Club

wineclub@hoguecellars.com

(509) 786-6108