Au Contraire Rose

Au Contraire Rosé is a 100% Pinot Noir rosé from Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 13.8% ABV in a 750ml format. What distinguishes this wine is its sourcing from premium Pinot Noir vineyard sites in and around the Green Valley sub-appellation — one of the North Coast's most acclaimed cool-climate growing areas — and a precision pressing technique that delivers striking color and concentrated fruit character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.8%  |  Origin: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir  |  Winemaker: Tom Hinde

Production & Heritage

Au Contraire sources its Pinot Noir from vineyard sites in the heart of Russian River Valley, with fruit drawn from the highly regarded Green Valley AVA, known for its foggy mornings and long, cool growing seasons that preserve acidity in the grapes. Winemaker Tom Hinde, who brings over 30 years of experience — including tenures at Kendall-Jackson, La Crema, and Hartford Family Winery — oversees production. The grapes are crushed and then pressed at an unusually gentle .04 bar of pressure, a deliberate technique that carefully controls skin contact and color extraction, yielding a wine with its signature delicate blush-pink hue and layered fruit intensity without bitterness or excessive tannin.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with lively candied watermelon and salted raspberry before revealing cheerful notes of cherry, strawberry, and quince. A subtle citrus lift and light floral quality carry through as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is bright and fruit-forward, with strawberry and sweet cream flavors meeting the mid-palate. A firm minerality anchors the wine and prevents it from skewing too sweet, while earthy tangerine zest and a whisper of warm spice build toward the peak. The mouthfeel is harmonious, balancing richness and freshness in equal measure.

Finish: Crisp and clean, the finish carries lingering orange zest and a faint mineral crunch. It's medium in length with enough persistence to reward a slow sip but enough snap to invite the next one.

How to Drink Au Contraire Rosé

Serve well-chilled, between 45–50°F, to let the minerality and fruit stay in sharp focus. This rosé also works beautifully in cocktails: try it in a Frosé, where the concentrated Pinot Noir fruit holds up to blending and freezing; in a French Spring Punch with elderflower liqueur and fresh citrus, where the wine's strawberry and quince notes add complexity; or in a simple Rosé Spritz topped with sparkling water and a grapefruit twist, playing off that lingering orange zest character.

Best For

• Warm-weather patio drinking with friends who appreciate Sonoma wines
• Pairing with a seafood-forward dinner party menu
• Gifting to someone exploring premium California rosés
• Bringing to a brunch gathering as a step up from mass-market pink wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Au Contraire Rosé taste like? It leads with bright strawberry and candied watermelon flavors, supported by firm minerality and a crisp finish of lingering orange zest. The overall impression is fresh and fruit-driven but grounded by an earthy, almost saline quality.

How does Au Contraire Rosé compare to La Crema Rosé? Both are Pinot Noir-based rosés from cool-climate Sonoma vineyards, and Au Contraire winemaker Tom Hinde previously worked at La Crema. Au Contraire tends toward a more mineral-driven, firmly structured style, while La Crema Rosé typically showcases a rounder, softer mouthfeel at a similar price tier.

Is Au Contraire Rosé good for sipping on its own? Yes — the balance of bright acidity, fruit intensity, and mineral backbone makes it well-suited for drinking on its own, especially served well-chilled in warmer weather.

Where is Au Contraire Rosé made? Au Contraire Rosé is produced in Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, with fruit sourced from Pinot Noir sites including the Green Valley AVA, one of the coolest sub-regions of the North Coast.

What foods pair well with Au Contraire Rosé? Grilled shrimp or prawns complement the wine's citrus and mineral notes. Charcuterie with mild salumi works with its strawberry and spice character. Goat cheese salads echo the crisp acidity. Seared ahi tuna plays off the earthy tangerine zest. Fresh summer fruit desserts, like a strawberry galette, mirror the wine's core fruit flavors.

What sizes does Au Contraire Rosé come in? Au Contraire Rosé is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Au Contraire Rosé worth the price? Au Contraire positions as a mid-premium California rosé, sitting above everyday grocery-shelf pink wines but within reach for regular enjoyment. The Russian River Valley sourcing and precision winemaking represent strong value for the appellation.

Why Au Contraire Rosé?

The defining quality here is transparency of origin — this is 100% Pinot Noir from some of Russian River Valley's most respected vineyard land, made by a winemaker with three decades of experience at benchmark Sonoma producers. The .04 bar pressing technique is unusually specific and deliberate, designed to extract color and flavor without the coarseness that aggressive pressing introduces. The result is a rosé with genuine structure and minerality, not just fruit sweetness — a style that reflects its cool-climate source material honestly. For drinkers who want a California rosé with real vineyard identity, Au Contraire delivers.