2023 Wood Family Vineyards, “Pink Pearl” Rosé and NFL Playoff Games
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards
No one has more fun than Rhonda Wood making wine! Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley, with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades. You can read more on her background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2/
Here is a partial listing of her current awards:
- 2022 “Pink Pearl” Rosé – Best of Class – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2021 Albariño – Best of Class – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2021 Chardonnay “Para Mas Amigas” – 91 points Wine Enthusiast
- 2020 “The Captain” – 94 points Wine Enthusiast + Editor’s Choice
- 2020 GSM – 93 points Wine Enthusiast + Editor’s Choice
- 2020 Petite Sirah – 93 points Wine Enthusiast
- 2020 “Viva” Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 Merlot – Best of Class – Uncorked
- 2019 “Big Wood” Zinfandel – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 Syrah – 95 points & Double Gold – OC Wine Fair
- 2019 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 LVVC – Gold – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “Woody’s” Cab Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2018 “Especial” Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2018 “Clone 30” Cabernet Sauvignon – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “El Loco Rojo” Bordeaux Red Blend – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
- 2019 “Muy Bueno” Zinfandel – Silver – SF Chronicle Wine Competition
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The name “Pink Pearl” is a wine dedicated to Rhonda’s girlfriends. They received the name “The Pearls Girls” as they frequented a restaurant in Fremont called the Pearls Café. This started many years ago where they gathered sharing life, supporting each other and as Rhonda states “shamelessly laughing”.
From above, the “Pink Pearl” won Best of Class Rosé at the San Francisco Wine Competition and deservingly justified. Watching the NFL playoffs generally a Rosé (for me) is not a normal choice but was I surprised by this wine! Let me explain that Rosé is probably my least favorite wine type. That said this wine is produced using 100% Grenache grapes picked a little earlier than their grapes for their red Grenache. Rhonda explained that she likes to pick earlier to maintain the natural acidity in the wine.
First on the eyes a beautiful shade of soft translucent pink coloring. On the nose, strong floral scents engulf the olfactory sense. In the palate this is no ordinary “soft and cuddly” Rose. It provides a strong strawberry and dried strawberry flavors with green apples. Secondary flavors of watermelon and honeydew swirl about playful in the mouth. The finish is mouth puckering with the combination of bright slightly higher acidity and a reclusive citrus (lemon) springing forth. Only 800 cases were produced and it comes in at 13.5% alcohol. This wine will be released in February 2024 and priced at $34/bottle.
The “Pink Pearl” turned out to be a Rosé wine worthy of NFL football watching and I enjoyed it!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While watching the NFL playoffs, a delightful array of snacks served on a charcuterie board. Items included slices of apple, Boar’s Head Bianco de Oro salami, Point Reyes Blue cheese, Boar’s Head French Brie cheese, dried apricots, dried cranberries, Italian olives and peppers prepared with spices and Chardonnay wine and a couple of different crackers. The Blue cheese, salami, Brie cheese and apples paired best with the wine. When you can find a Rosé that can hold up to those foods, you have a winner no matter who won the game!
Sláinte,
Michael