Tropical salsa with pineapple, mango, avocado, black beans, cilantro and fresh squeezed lime juice served with crunchy, salty tortilla chips and a chilled glass of Rosado makes for an awesome summer afternoon or tailgate snack. While many people tend to grab a beer with their chips & salsa, I encourage you to drink outside the box and try a glass of vino. Rosado is the Spanish term for rosé. These wines are a great value and incredibly versatile. Spain and Portugal are both producing some of the best wine values in the world right now.  Contrary to popular belief, many rosés are actually dry and make a great companion for many foods from picnic fare to salads to salsas.

The Muga Rosado from Rioja is a great choice at a great price. The wine is made from the Garnacha, Viuda and Tempranillo grapes. Here are my tasting notes from the 2012 vintage. Note: Rosados should be consumed within 1-3 years to preserve the vibrant fruit flavors.

Cherry, juicy apple, apricot, pineapple, white blossoms & fennel aromas give way to a medium bodied wine with notes of fresh baked croissants. (Tasted October 2013)