Today I want to talk about two subjects I’ve thought a bit about: Prosecco and rosé. Actually, it’s one subject: The arrival of Prosecco rosé, which is set to splash onto the market in less than a year, on New Year’s Day 2021. My immediate reaction was suspicion.

Wasn’t this more evidence that the world was going to hell in a wine basket? Were my adopted countrymen, Italians, cravenly trying to cash in on two wine trends in order to feed our never-ending thirst for novelty? But after some reflection and listening—actions once considered normal before Twitter—I am not so sure.