Since I’ve studied herbalism and adapted to an herbalist’s lifestyle, I have enjoyed working with roses. From rosebuds, to mature rose petals, to rose hips – Rosa rubiginosa is a magical plant with all kinds of health benefits or Materia Medica. One of the best and easiest ways to utilize rose is to simply dry the flower heads. This is how you extend the life and medicine of the flower.

Naturally, as a winemaker, when I think of roses and wine, I go straight to the vast hues of pretty pink rosé wine.

Here’s a fun little fact. Did you know that pink isn’t even a color? It’s blended light. I waxed poetics about this and how this delicate color is a paradox from a chemistry and physics standpoint. I think this notion about pink not even being a color is what makes me love pink all the more!

Here’s my back label:

I often get asked – can you age a rosé wine?

And while it’s easy to extend the life of a rose flower through drying and proper storage, like pink wine, there is a point of expiration. As mentioned above, herbalists dry rose heads to extend the life of the flower to later use in teas, salves and other medicinal products. If you’re into drying flowers, in general, dried roses can last anywhere from several months to a few years. If the roses were dried using a drying agent such as silica gel and were stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, they can last longer than roses that were air-dried or hung to dry. As an herbalist I’m a purist. I air-dry my roses.

As a winemaker, I’m quite intentional with making wines that age well via the vehicle of Cabernet Franc. I intentionally make a dry, higher acidity rosé that’s high-quality and meant to evolve in the bottle.

Like reds and some whites, pink wines can age quite well but they require special attention.

Aging rosé is a bit different than aging other wines, and it’s important to know that not all rosés are meant to age. Most are intended for fresh enjoyment within a year or two of release. However, there are some exceptions and tips for successful aging if you’re up for the challenge:

Types of Rosé that Age Well:

• Dry rosés with higher acidity: Look for labels from Provence, Bandol, Tavel, Loire, parts of Italy and OREGON – known for structured, quenchable rosés. Grapes like Grenache, Mourvèdre, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Nebbiolo contribute to ageability.
  
• Rosé with some tannic structure: Skin contact during fermentation can add tannins, like in some Tavel and Italian rosés.
  
• High-quality, well-made rosés: Opt for reputable producers known for their aging potential.

Tips for Aging Rosé:

• Storage: Choose a cool, dark place with consistent temperature (around 55°F) and humidity (50-70%). Avoid light and vibrations.
  
• Patience: Most ageable rosés benefit from 3-5 years, some even longer. Start checking a bottle every year or two to see how it’s developing.

Keep in mind aging rosé wine is a bit of a gamble.  Even with ideal conditions, there’s no guarantee a rosé will improve with age. It might oxidize or lose its vibrant fruitiness. Higher acid wines (lower pH) give the structure needed for slowing down the aging process. Best tip – get to know your producer! Learn the intention behind their winemaking techniques and wine style.

Alternatives:

• Consider trying a “winter rosé,” a style made for slightly later enjoyment with richer flavors.
  
• Explore other grapes that have ample acidity like Gamay Noir, Sangiovese, Schiava and Mencía that can age well.

Ultimately, choose a well-regarded bottle you’re willing to invest in and store it properly. Then, track its development and see if it evolves into something special.

You can confidently hold on to your bottles of Leah Jørgensen Cellars Rosé of Cabernet Franc! We recently poured our 2016 and 2017 rosé wines at a private dinner and they showed elegance, softer structure, great acidity, and flavors of pink grapefruit, marzipan, and marmalade. While we no longer produce rosé wine, we have limited bottles available in our library. If you are interested, shoot us an email at info@ljcwineco.com.