Pelio Estate Wines introduces a rosé tasting and pairing from Carmel Valley artisans.

Nothing pairs better with summer than Carmel Valley sunshine and rosé. Thankfully, several wineries have a pick of the litter for such an indulgence, from sparkling to still.

Pelio Estate Wines is taking their sippable refreshment to elegant new heights with their new Rosé Experience.

Across from the bicentenarian olive trees in Pelio’s courtyard are three pergolas dressed with elegant and comfortable couches beckoning you to sit and relax while enjoying one of their delectable wines. But what catches your eye this time of year are the pink drapes adorning the long couches, akin to a Las Vegas cabana sans-pool. Hidden behind one of the drapes is a technological advancement suited for such luxury: a brushed copper button that says, “Push for Rosé.” Upon its activation, a Pelio wine expert will then greet you with a specialized tasting and pairing experience, complete with cheeses, meats, chocolates and crackers, all from Carmel Valley artisans.

“This is a way to feature local creators in the area and local businesses,” says Pelio Estate Tasting Room Manager Morgan McCauley, who curated the pairings with other local businesses in Carmel Valley.

McCauley points to the cheeses that come from Sophie Hauville at Carmel Valley Creamery and the chocolates come from Qouign creator Santana Rodriguez.

But her vision didn’t stop at just cheese and chocolate—she’s also actively working with other local businesses to perfect the three-tiered tower of delights for her pairing, including a local macaroon company based out of Salinas, another woman-owned business who contributes flower crackers and strawberries from Earthbound Farm. Topping off the artisanal craft is Pelio’s first batch of estate farmed honey as well, all of which McCauley describes as a way for guests to experience the best of what’s coming out of this area. 

Tasting different rosés carries the ability to bounce back and forth rather than sequentially moving from lighter bodied white wines to heavier bodied reds. McCauley took full advantage of this fact, elevating simple rosé beyond its stereotype when she executed the owners' vision of a ‘rosé experience.’

“A lot of people think about rosé as a girly drink like something to drink over the summer—which is fine,” McCauley laughs. “Pairings are such a significant thing in the wine industry. This is something so simple but if you put more thought into it you can actually taste how they complement and bring out the tasting notes of one another.”

Pelio’s summer selections for the inaugural Rosé Experience include a 2020 sparkling cuveé 50/50 chardonnay and pinot noir blend, a 2020 rosé of pinot noir and the newly released 2024 rosé of pinot noir.

Each of the tower tiers of artisan creations correspond to the tasting notes of each of the wines from top to bottom. The extra dry bubbles are paired primarily with Carmel Valley Creamery’s “cowboy” brie cheese along with a carmelized white chocolate ganache that includes a layer of honey.

The 2020 rosé of pinot noir is on full display in the next tasting, since Rodriguez infused the same wine itself in her white chocolate ganache, pairing excellently with the Hauville’s Herbes de Provence cheese with rose-coated exterior. The newly released 2024 rosé is currently paired with a coastal cheddar, but McCauley says samples from Schoch Family Farmstead are being tested as a potential switch-up to accompany a white chocolate ganache with Meyer lemon and peach preserve.

“The goal is to stay 100-percent local with the pairings,” McCauley says.

In mid-May, roses are in full bloom around the Pelio Estate, which adorn the pergolas—a simple and perfectly elegant addition to the whole experience. McCauley adds that the special pairing is a limited-time experience only offered when the flowers are present, but has plans to continue it as an annual tradition. Pelio plans to offer a new rosé and sparkling cuveé each year, which should keep McCauley and the local artisans she’s working with busy.

For McCauley, the Rosé Experience also offers something unique than just a wine pairing.

“So many people typically think about pairing red wines with certain things, but you can pair so many things with white wines,” she says. “White wines are not just meant to be drunk on their own—they’re meant to be enjoyed.”

She also hopes that this will give guests ideas of how to pair their white wines at home as well, and Pelio offers samples of the chocolates to be taken home for just that.

The Rosé Experience at Pelio Estate is offered for a limited time only. $75 per person. 25 Pilot Road, Carmel Valley. pelioestatewines.com. 298-7402.