Fortunately, thanks to our preoccupation with Mediterranean cuisine, Americans are rediscovering the joys of good pink wine. Rosé is the quintessential summer drink in Provençe and other parts of southern France. It goes with bouillabaisse, seafood in general, and most grilled, garlicky, and spicy foods. It's called "rosado" in Spain and "rosato" in Italy, but it serves the same purpose in those countries - to take the edge off hot summer days and make the bountiful summer cuisine taste better. Rosé Renaissance? The Pink Ages? Whatever you call it, we're lucky to be living in a time when most real men - and women - aren't afraid to drink a crisp, refreshing, soulful rosé.

We typically carry rosés from Bandol, Sancerre, Pic St. Loup, Côtes du Lubéron, Côtes du Frontonnais, Abruzzo, Ghemme, and California. If you're wondering where the heck any of these places are or, more importantly, what their pink wines taste like, just come in and ask us. We'll have a continually changing selection of rosés ranging from $7.99 to $25 throughout the summer. Here are a few examples:

2002 Château la Canorgue Côtes du Lubéron rosé ($10.99): Here's classic Provençal rosé made by a consistently excellent producer from organic Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes. Canorgue's rosé is bone dry, crisp, and minerally. When the weather turns warm, there's no better pick-me-up and cool-me-down drink than this kind of wine.

2000 Edmunds St. John Pinc Froid ($10.99): Steve Edmunds, one our favorite California winemakers, uses Santa Barbara County Nebbiolo grapes to make this rosé in the style of a northern Italian rosato from Piemonte. It's full-flavored, minerally, dry, and just a touch smoky.

2002 Illuminati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo rosato ($11.99): This baby reminds you that pink wines can please the eye as well as the palate. The color is a beautiful, vivid cherry-red, and the aromas are of fresh strawberries and rose petals. The wine finishes dry with nice length.

All of these are great aperitif and sit-out-on-the-deck-with-friends wine. They add an increment of pleasure to any barbecue. They flatter your complexion, improve your love life, and brighten your mood. So this summer, drink more pink!