What is a "saignée" rosé?
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Dear Dr. Vinny,
What is a "saignée" rosé?
—Jane, Cape Town, South Africa
Dear Jane,
Saignée (pronounced “sehn-yay”) is a French term that means “to bleed.” In terms of winemaking, that's a reference to the act of “bleeding off” juice from a tank of red grape juice that is just beginning to ferment, before the juice has fully extracted the color and tannins from the grape skins (that happens later, during maceration). The Saignée method can serve two purposes: Not only is it used to produce a rosé wine, but it also serves to concentrate the remaining juice that is left behind, which is made into red wine.
—Dr. Vinny
