Protea Coastal Region Dry Rosé 2023

As any serious wine drinker knows, one can’t drink the wine label or the container, nor should one purchase wine based on the attractiveness of its packaging. Nonetheless, the label and bottle of the 2023 Protea Dry Rosé certainly captivates the eye for it may possibly be the most beautiful wine presentation anywhere. Moreover, the 2023 Protea Dry Rosé is equally beautiful and simply delicious. This diverse blend (61% Cinsault, 12% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre, 6% Carignan, 4% Malbec, 4% Shiraz, 2% Cabernet Franc) glows like the Mediterranean sun with an eye-catching coral and rose color. Better still, it offers a seductive olfactory redolent with the scents of raspberry, strawberry, and ripe red cherries, but that’s not all. In the mouth, this juicy dry rosé’s aromatic fruit flavors re-emerge with the added zest of tangerine and lime. The 2023 Protea Dry Rosé is crisp and pleasantly dry straight through to the finish. So refreshing and fun to drink, we found it hard to put this wine down. Enjoy the 2023 Protea Dry Rosé now and often with a moderate chill (40°-45° F). Anticipated maturity: 2024-2025.

All the 2023 Protea Dry Rosé needs is a clean glass to shine. Serve it at a garden party and your guests may never leave. Protea’s Dry Rosé is a wine you can enjoy year round without any food at all. Yet, we suggest you also pair it with fish, shellfish, pasta, poultry, and a host of Asian stir fries for an added treat. South Africa’s rich culinary history includes an exciting mix of African, Asian and European influences along with a wealth of exotic spices, which lend themselves well to Protea’s racy Dry Rosé – made from a delightful mélange of grape varietals that complement spicy foods. Crab cocktail, skewered spicy shrimp, and scallops wrapped in bacon provide especially tasty accompaniments. Hummus or a spicy Roasted Red Pepper Dip with carrot and celery sticks makes another fine companion to Protea’s 2023 Dry Rosé. Calamari Tempura, Thai Green Curry Chicken with vegetables, and a well-prepared Salade Niçoise provide splendid accompaniments too. Light pasta dishes and fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls also pair well with Protea’s 2023 Dry Rosé. Bon Appétit!

Protea emanates from the Anthonij Rupert Wyne estate in South Africa’s Coastal Region of the Western Cape. Founded by the late Anthonij Rupert on the 17th century L’Ormarins farm in beautiful Franschhoek, this ideally situated property was taken over by Anthonij’s brother Johann in 2003. With superb vineyard selections, a new state of the art winery, and a passion for fashioning a bevy of exciting white and red wines from South Africa’s premier grape varieties, Johann has brought this picturesque property to the forefront of South African wine producers.

Although award winning brandy and white wines were fashioned at L’Ormarins farm long before the arrival of the Rupert brothers, it is the Anthonij Rupert Wyne red wines from French varietals that first captured international attention and thrust Anthonij Rupert Wyne into the top echelon of South African wine. Optima, a highly allocated blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec, remains the most renowned wine from this estate, though the winery’s single varietals are equally impressive under both the Anthonij Rupert Wyne and Protea labels.

Protea, the national flower of South Africa, is renowned for its beauty and diversity. In order to introduce the beauty of South Africa’s floral kingdom and its exceptional wines to a greater audience, Anthonij Rupert Wyne created Protea. Protea highlights two of South Africa’s most important varietals, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. They also offer an excellent dry rosé (this month’s feature). Each is bottled with what may be the world’s simplest but most beautiful label in the form of latticed protea flowers, a fitting tribute to the beauty and diversity of both the protea flower and the wine. Protea labels are printed from 100% recycled material to symbolize the estate’s environmentally friendly ethos and commitment to sustainable practices. Most importantly, the Protea Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chenin Blanc capture the purity and quality international wine drinkers have come to expect from Anthonij Rupert Wyne.