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Blush Wines for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to blush wine products
Blush wine is a pink wine that is similar to white wine but with more body. It wasn't until the late 20th century that these pink wines found their popularity increase in American households. In 1972, a California winemaker released a paler wine to his Red Zinfandel that he labeled White Zinfandel. Although he wasn't the first to create such a wine, he was the first to market it as a new wine style successfully.
About blush wine
The term blush wine also originated in the 1970s when a wine writer visited Sonoma County in California and sampled a pale pink wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon. That winemaker thought about calling this new wine White Cabernet, but the writer encouraged the use of the word "blush." By the 1980s, as white wines gained popularity among consumers, winemakers began affixing "white" or "blanc" to their labels.
When shopping for blush wines, you'll find that most have light, fruity, and floral notes. You might think all blush wines have a pink hue, but that's not necessarily the case. They can have a variety of colors, ranging from light to medium pink. How they get the color involves the juice from grapes. All juice used to make wine is clear, regardless of the variety of grapes used. The process of leaving that clear juice in contact with the wine's colored skins is what determines its ultimate color.
When winemakers want to make a blush wine, they can do so in one of two ways. They can either leave the juice in contact with red wine grape skins for about an hour to give it a little color, or they can combine a red and white wine.
Types of Blush Wine
Although the most common types of blush wine have white in their titles, they are all made from red wine juice that comes in contact with its skin. Common blush wines include:
- White Grenache: Also known as Garnatxa Blanca, this full-bodied blush wine originated in northern Spain. It boasts flavors featuring herbs and citrus.
- White Merlot: This type of blush wine is made from black-skinned merlot grapes that usually give off sweet cherry notes along with hints of berries. It has a dry yet rich flavor.
- White Zinfandel: Perhaps the most popular type of blush wine, White Zinfandel is a sweet pink-colored wine made from the black-and-blue zinfandel grape. More experienced drinkers often overlook it because it's a sweeter wine. Still, today's White Zinfandel is more sophisticated than those produced 20 years ago and can range from very sweet to surprisingly dry.
How to serve blush wine
Blush wines are best served chilled between 40 -45°F, but White Zinfandel should be served a little colder at 35-40°F. Place the wine in the refrigerator 60-90 minutes before you wish to serve it. If you don't have that much time, you can place the bottle in a bucket of ice water and salt. Rotate the bottle periodically for about 20 minutes.
Whether you're hosting a large gathering or want a bottle to enjoy with your meal, blush wine makes a perfect choice. Open your Instacart app, look through the blush wine selections, and place a bottle or two in your cart. An Instacart shopper will get started on your order, and you can have your wine at your door in as little as 2 hours!
Blush Wine Near Me
Buy your favorite Blush Wine online with Instacart. Order Grenache Rose, Rose, White Zinfandel, and more from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about blush wine
Unlike other wines, blush wine doesn't benefit from aging. It's best to consume the wine within 6 months of purchasing it. You can keep the bottle of blush wine on the counter until you're ready to drink it. Once you open a bottle of blush wine, it remains safe to consume for 5-7 days.
A dry blush wine complements various dishes, so you really can't go wrong when pairing it with food. Try this wine with shellfish, seafood, pasta, and spicy dishes. Other foods that work well include summer soups, egg dishes, and salads with chicken. You can also incorporate blush wine into cocktails and serve it with fresh fruit, desserts, and cheeses. Some people even serve blush wine as an after-dinner dessert wine.
Many people use the two terms interchangeably, but they differ slightly. Any wine can be called a Rosé if made from juice left in contact with the skins for about an hour. Rosés never use a blend of white and red wine, whereas blush wines can be made in either style. As a result, all Rosé wine can be blush wine, but not all blush wine can be Rosé wine.