Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma Carneros’ original sparkling wine house, is adding a non-vintage sparkling Brut Rosé to its prestigious line-up.  Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from Gloria Ferrer’s 340-acre estate in the esteemed Carneros region of southern Sonoma County, the new wine arrives at a time when both sparkling wine and rosé are booming in the U.S. market. The new sparkling wine will be released nationally in May at a suggested retail price of $29.

Since 1990, Gloria Ferrer has been making small quantities of vintage dated Brut Rosé available for purchase at the winery; it is the most requested wine in the wine club. Increasing consumer demand coupled with consistent 90+ scores from national wine publications for Gloria Ferrer’s sparkling wines has created the perfect moment to release this new wine nationally, according to Vice President of Marketing Eva Bertran. “Rosé has been gaining popularity for a decade and it is no longer seen as a girl’s drink or a seasonal phenomenon,” says Bertran. “The growth of sparkling rosé has also been impressive and they have a larger presence on wine lists across the country. We expect our Brut Rosé to be very well received in the market,” says Bertran.

Like all the world’s best sparkling wines, the grapes for Gloria Ferrer Brut Rosé are harvested by hand and collected in small bins. Pressing is gentle, to retain the freshness that is the hallmark of the cool and breezy Carneros region of Sonoma. A blend of 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay, half of the red grapes are left on their skins for 36 to 48 hours to extract color and the wine is aged in bottle for two years to develop its effervescence. “Pinot Noir gives the wine its finesse, its elegant fruit aromas, and seductive pink color.” says Steven Urberg, Winemaker for Gloria Ferrer, “and Chardonnay provides structure and vibrant acidity.”

Read more at source: Wine Industry Advisor