Marqués de Cáceres Rosado Rioja DOC

Dry, juicy, and fruit-forward: that is how this rosé from Tempranillo presents itself. It stands for the more powerful side of rosé because the grape variety from the Rioja gives it more berry fullness than many delicate, very light representatives of the category. The acidity keeps the fruit in balance, and with 13.5% vol, it has enough body to hold its own at the table. The screw cap brings no cork taint into the glass and makes the bottle uncomplicated to handle.

With tapas, the acidity works for you: it cuts through oil and salt, for example with fried prawns, Serrano ham, or tortilla. The berry fruit joins in without overpowering the dishes.

It pairs well with grilled food, fish, and poultry because of its medium body. It carries roasted aromas from the grill but remains light enough for grilled sea bream or chicken skewers. With salads with vinaigrette, its acidity keeps up with that of the dressing.

As an aperitif, it works well on the terrace, at a barbecue evening in summer, or on a mild early autumn day when friends come together without a fixed menu.

All three alternatives are dry rosé wines from the Rioja with Tempranillo.

• Carlos Serres Rosado from Bodegas Carlos Serres is the choice if you want to try a single-varietal Tempranillo profile from a different producer.
• Conde Valdemar Rosado Rioja DOCa from Conde Valdemar supplements the Tempranillo with Garnacha and is a good fit for you if you prefer a cuvée.
• El Coto Rioja Rosado from El Coto de Rioja also combines Tempranillo with Garnacha and is the better choice if you want to compare Rioja rosé as a cuvée.