Some of you may turn your nose up on rosé wine, which for some conjures up images of cheap Sutter Home White Zin or wines served in a box. But somehow, this summer saw a revival of rosé; the once much-maligned pink drink has become more popular, with less cloying, drier varieties making strong inroads into the U.S. market. This DCist was squarely in the “yuck” camp until just recently, when we tried a wine that’s fast gunning for the title of our personal summer favorite.

The Margan Family 2004 Shiraz Saignée is the perfect storm of wine hipness. Aussie? Check. Screw top? Check. Shiraz? Check. And a rosé — a varietal the vintner originally made “as a lark” that quickly became an award winner. When we saw it at our local wine shop for $14.99, we decided to go for it. There was grilling planned, and in the heat, it seemed a good time to check out what we were missing.

Our first taste of the Shiraz Saignée altered our perceptions on what pink wine could be. Though the wine opened on our palates with a touch of sweetness, it was of a distinctly drier sort than we were expecting. Served very, very cold, the mid- and aftertastes had the pleasing acidity we’d expect more from a Semillon, but without the tartness. We enjoyed a bottle with Buffalo Hunter Meats’ outstanding chorizo with cilantro, topped with a spicy salsa and a side of Gardener’s Gourmet’s mesclun salad (both available at Eastern Market on Saturdays). In the heat of August, the combinations made for a great meal, and we’ll be heading back to the store to pick up some more takes on rosé before the weather cools down. Any other suggestions for rosés? We’re always up for wine tips, so please tell!