"What wine goes well with warm weather and just about every food imaginable?" asks Morgan, "Dry rosé, of course. They figured this out eons ago in Southern France, and that's why we created SoloRosa (meaning only rosé) in California." Dry rosé is not to be confused with sweeter versions of pinkness such as white zinfandel. Dry rosé does not object to a few ice cubes being thrown into the glass, especially when the wine possesses the crispness of the SoloRosa.

The 2000 vintage, started from a single barrel of sangiovese. Because of its miniscule production, however, that wine was not commercially released. "This year we made a little bit more than 50 barrels, to be exact, so our friends would have enough dry rosé to propel them through the remainder of hot weather's great eating and drinking." It is a blend of a number of red grapes that include sangiovese and zinfandel.

"SoloRosa 2001 is bone dry, yet brimming with ripe cherry and raspberry flavors. It is tempered by tangy acidity, a flinty mineral core and just a hint of toastiness. Perfect for barbecue, SoloRosa also has the kind of class to fit into a far more refined setting, pairing well with seafood, spice, fine sauces, poultry, game and other red meats as well." Morgan continues to boast, "Dare we say that it goes well with just about anything? In a word, yes." He just may be correct.

"Initial responses among the trade have been extremely positive," says Morgan, "East Coast wine guru Josh Wesson is selling SoloRosa at Best Cellars wine shops in New York, Washington, DC and Massachusetts." The wine can also be obtained at select, upscale restaurants such as Gotham Bar & Grill in New York City, Aziza, in San Francisco, Tra Vigne and Martini House in Napa Valley. The renowned retailer Zachy's, in Scarsdale, NY, also carries the wine along with Dean & DeLuca in Napa Valley. "Perhaps most gratifying has been Chicago chef Charlie Trotter¹s response," adds Morgan, "After enjoying a bottle of SoloRosa for lunch, he decided to carry it in both his restaurant and gourmet take-out shop."

Lance Storer at a Park Cities/Dallas location of Centennial Fine Wine and Spirits reports that the wine is flying off of his shelves. Imagine that, air conditioning in a bottle selling extremely well in Dallas. The retail price is around $18 in Texas and less in California. Compare that to one electric bill.

Former Long Island wine maker Jeff Morgan, then again former West Coast Editor for Wine Spectator, for whom he wrote some four hundred feature articles, edited and coordinated West Coast features, reviewed restaurants and hotels, was a member of Wine Spectator's elite tasting panel, and transcended later to Wine Director for Dean & DeLuca in the Napa Valley. Morgan has recently written The Dean & DeLuca Book of Food & Wine, which approaches the subject of food and wine pairings in depth, and continues to write books as he also makes wine. He plays a great jazz saxophone as well. For more information, go to www.solorosawines.com or call 707-963-3887.