Spring has sprung! Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and Mother’s Day is right around the corner.

Naturally, our wine varietal of the month is rosé, a wine much like roses, which unfold in their own distinctive way, but always beautifully. Here’s the scoop on “thinking pink” this month.

BRUNCH READY

La Crema Sparkling Brut Rosé dances on the palate with lovely notes of lemon meringue, wild strawberries and fresh ginger. A special pour for a special day. (About $45)

Bricoleur Vineyards offers a Mother’s Day sale on its spectacular 2019 rosé of pinot noir. Attention flower freaks: The new estate with ponds, olive trees and vineyards in Sonoma County boasts over 85 different varieties of roses blooming in the gorgeous gardens. A must for Mom!

Pop a bottle of Heath Sparkling Wines for instant smiles. Tiny bubbles rise to the top of the Texas pinot noir of rosé with flavors and aromas of white flowers and strawberries. Take Mom to the striking tasting room in Fredericksburg for a flight of four sparkling wines with seasonal small bites.

PRETTY IN PINK

The expressive 2019 Malene Wines rosé leaps from the glass with notes of white grapefruit, peach and peony. Crafted from California grapes and made in the Provencal style, the palate is lively with juicy notes of strawberry and nectarine leading to a crisp finish. (About $22)

Julia’s Dazzle 2019 rosé, from Long Shadows Vintners in Washington state, shines from its feminine-shaped keepsake bottle with gold etching to its flavor profile of Gala apple, red raspberry, guava and light cream finish kissed with minerality. Yep, dazzled she’ll be! (About $18)

Since Jean-Claude Mas took the helm of his family’s French Cotes Mas winery in 2000, he has sourced the highest quality grapes from twelve privately owned estates and premier growers in the Languedoc for wines of authenticity. Cote Mas Cremant de Limoux Brut ($20) will kick off the celebration in style, while chic and cheerful Cote Mas rosé (only $14.99) is picnic or patio-perfect.

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSÉS

Fleur de Prairie Cotes de Provence rosé will transport you to wildflower-carpeted France with its coral hue and delicate flavors of wild strawberries, rose petals, herbs and bright food-friendly acidity. Bring on the smoked salmon! (About $15)

The Prisoner Wine Co. knows a few things about how the world felt during the pandemic. Celebrate spring beginnings with its newest debut, 2019 Unshackled rosé ($25), a crisp, citrusy and lush blend of pinot noir, syrah, Grenache and mourvedre grapes from north and central California. It begs for goat cheese, beet salad and green olive tapenade.

Watermelon. Strawberries. Peach. Honeycrisp apple and hints of melon. All you do is crack the screw top of H3 Horse Heaven Hills and you can ride off into the sunset. (About $18)

BUY WINES:Online at each winery; Spec’s; HEB; Total Wine & More; Houston Wine Merchant (note: the latter will order wines if they don’t carry it and can locate it).

Cover photo courtesy Liana Mikah on Unsplash

Robin Barr Sussman ([email protected]) is a freelance culinary and travel writer who studied at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone, Calif. As a chef for Sonoma County wineries, her specialty was food and wine pairing. Sussman is a columnist for Houston Modern Luxury Magazine, Prime Living and Houston House & Home. Her work also appears in Texas Monthly, Fodor’s and Private Clubs Magazine.