The Best Food to Pair With Rosé Wine

At Davis Estates, we’re firm believers in the fact that rosé is the wine world’s secret weapon, especially when it comes to food pairings. We’ll always love the classics, like serving Cabernet Sauvignon with steak and Chardonnay with creamy pasta dishes, but we also love introducing our guests to rosé wine food pairings and watching their faces light up when they realize how perfectly it pairs with… well, almost everything.

Last summer, a guest told us they’d never understood rosé until they tried our Napa Valley Lily Fleur Rosé alongside some fresh Dungeness crab, just one of a wide variety of pairings we love here at Davis Estates. Trust us – if rosé hasn’t yet had a place at your dinner table, you’re going to want to keep reading.

Key Takeaways

• Fresh seafood works incredibly well with rosé because the wine’s acidity brightens ocean flavors without fighting them.
• Cheese boards gain a great complexity when served with rosé – the wine bridges salty, creamy, and nutty flavors beautifully.
• Mediterranean cuisine is an ideal choice to serve alongside rosé – the olive oil, herbs, and grilled vegetables will truly shine.
• Spicy foods balance effortlessly with the soft fruit flavors of rosé.
• Summer picnics practically demand rosé – it’s like the wine was made for outdoor eating.

Understanding Rosé Wine Characteristics

We’ve poured thousands of glasses over the years, and here’s what we’ve noticed: rosé doesn’t try to dominate your meal. It’s subtle, versatile, and an easy presence at any table.

One of the reasons that rosé wine stands firmly as one of our favorites is that it’s exceptionally down-to-earth – it’s not a wine that can only be brought out for special occasions. It’s an elegant option for dinner parties, but it’s also perfect with last night’s leftover pizza.

Our winemaker always says rosé is about balance, not boldness. The wine has enough personality to stand up to flavorful dishes, but won’t steamroll delicate preparations. That’s what makes rosé wine and seafood such a winning combination; neither tries to show off.

Seafood and Shellfish Pairings

Seafood pairings are where rosé wine truly shines. There’s something about that crisp acidity that makes everything from the ocean taste more like itself.

Here’s what works well:

• Fresh oysters – The minerality in good rosé plays off the oysters’ brininess perfectly.
• Grilled salmon – Subtle and fresh, especially when you don’t add heavy sauces. 
• Crab – Dungeness, king crab, even crab cakes if they’re not too breaded.
• Seared scallops – The caramelization plus rosé’s brightness? Perfect.
• Poke bowls – This pairing surprised us, too, but it works!

Pro tip: Don’t drown your seafood in heavy cream sauces if you’re drinking rosé. The wine gets lost, and frankly, so does the fish. Keep it simple, light, and fresh.

Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Boards

We’ve built more charcuterie boards than we can count for our wine tasting experiences, and rosé boards are always the most fun. When pairing a board with rosé, you’re able to mix textures and flavors that would clash with other wines, and we’re obsessed.

Our favorite cheeses:

• Humboldt Fog goat cheese – That tangy creaminess is pure gold with rosé.
• Triple cream brie – Rich meets refreshing – and it works.
• Aged Gruyère – The nuttiness brings out fruit notes you didn’t know were there.
• Fresh mozzarella – It’s especially good when drizzled with high-quality olive oil.

Our go-to meat options:

• Prosciutto – It’s a classic for a reason!
• Salami – Go for something with fennel or herbs.
• Duck confit – It tastes incredible every time.

After creating the base of meats and cheeses, we add fresh peaches, figs, or whatever’s in season. Marcona almonds, olives, and honey are a few of our favorite finishing touches. All of the flavors tie together beautifully with rosé, and the result is unforgettable.

Mediterranean Cuisine and Light Fare

Mediterranean food and rosé wine are a natural combination. With simple grilled vegetables, fresh herbs, and high-quality olive oil, the vibrant flavors of Mediterranean fare showcase exceptionally well alongside a subtle, fruit-forward glass of rosé.

What we love making:

• Grilled zucchini and eggplant – We like to char them a bit and add some basil.
• Caprese salad – Use the best tomatoes you can find for best results!
• Herb-crusted chicken – Light seasoning is key – bright, not too heavy.
• Ratatouille – Sounds intimidating, but it’s simpler than you’d think – and so worth it.

What we love about rosé is that it doesn’t need you to be a chef. All you have to do is lean into the natural flavors, use high-quality ingredients, and do some simple prep work to make a dish you’re proud of.

Spicy Cuisine and International Flavors

Spicy food with rosé wine is nothing short of brilliant. While everyone else is reaching for beer for international pairings, we’re pouring rosé and watching the magic happen.

Our favorite combinations:

• Thai green curry – The wine’s fruit notes balance the spicy curry perfectly.
• Korean BBQ – Bulgogi is our favorite – the marinated flavors work beautifully.
• Fish tacos – Make sure to use proper salsa verde for best results.
• Tandoori – Yogurt marinades and rosé? You can’t beat it.

The secret? Rosé doesn’t fight the heat – it cools your palate while allowing you to taste all the complex spice layers.

Summer Dining and Outdoor Entertaining

There’s something about warm weather that makes rosé taste even better, and summer ingredients that make food pairing effortless.

Our go-to summer combinations:

• Salad with vinaigrette – The acidity levels were made to be paired with rosé.
• Grilled dishes – Vegetables, chicken, fish, even fruit for dessert – summer is grilling season, and rosé is ready for it.
• Gazpacho – Cold soup with cold wine on a hot day? Genius.
• Stone fruit desserts – Peach cobbler with rosé is pure summertime bliss.

Picnic pairings:

• Smoked salmon bagels – Easy to transport, impossible to mess up.
• Quinoa salad – Pair with whatever vegetables look best at the farmer’s market.
• Fresh bread cheese – You just can’t beat it.
• Fresh berries – They echo the wine’s fruit character beautifully.

 

Discovering Your Perfect Rosé Experience

We could give you detailed tasting notes and talk about terroir for hours (and we will, if you visit our current wine collection). But here’s the real secret to rosé wine food pairing: trust your instincts.

If it sounds good together, try it. We’ve had guests pair our rosé with everything from sushi to barbecue, and you know what? Most of it works. Rosé is wildly forgiving and can be enjoyed alongside nearly all of your favorite dishes

This wine doesn’t demand perfection. It just asks that you pay attention to what you’re eating and drinking. And honestly? That’s a pretty good life philosophy right there.

Ready to stop reading about food pairing and start experiencing it? Come taste with us at Davis Estates. We’ll help you discover what makes your taste buds sing because that’s what this is really about. Wine tasting isn’t about following all the rules; it’s about finding the combinations you keep coming back to again and again.