Fireworks needn't be the only sizzle in your Fourth of July celebration this week. You can bring a bit of sparkle to the party with a crisp, dry rose wine long before the pyrotechnics begin.

Everyone will thank you because few adult beverages are as refreshing on a hot summer day. That's only one of the reasons dry roses are suddenly changing minds and winning fans. The other is a dramatically improved product.

As demand for dry rose has grown throughout the U.S. in recent years, more top producers have hopped aboard the bandwagon, resulting in greater selection and better wines. I suggest four for the Fourth.

Sonoma-Cutrer is a case in point. Long known for its exquisite chardonnay and pinot noir, Sonoma-Cutrer has trained its guns on a dry rose made from Russian River Valley pinot noir. The most recent vintage, 2018, earned a platinum award and a score of 94 points at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition in June (retail price: $23).

It was barely nudged out of best-of-show honors by the 2018 Fleur de Mer Rose from the Cotes de Provence AOP in the south of France ($20). Both are superb examples of the genre, with lively though subtle fruit aromas and crisp acidity.

And back in April, two California wineries, Navarro and Etude, best known for aromatic whites and elegant pinot noir, respectively, scored big at the San Diego International Wine Challenge with rose of pinot noir.

The Etude ($22) captured best-of-show honors with a rose from Santa Barbara County, and the Navarro ($22) scored a gold medal with a beautiful rose from Mendocino's Anderson Valley.

What they all deliver is a zesty, refreshing warm-weather beverage option that is modestly priced and widely distributed throughout the U.S. This Fourth of July, bring your own fireworks; bring a great rose.

Best Value

Wines are rated on a 100-point scale. Wines are chosen for review because they represent outstanding quality or value, and the scores are simply a measure of this reviewer's enthusiasm for the recommended wine.

Two Angels 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, High Valley ($16.99) — The highly regarded winemaking consultant Bob Pepi has made this wine since its inception compiled an impressive track record over more than a decade. This vintage shows a bit of Bordeaux blanc character with aromas of white peach and citrus, excellent balance and length. Rating: 90.

Wakefield 2017 Estate Chardonnay, Clare Valley ($16.99) — Aromas of lemon creme, spice, baked apple and pear, as well as a smooth, creamy finish make this medium-bodied, pleasing chardonnay a serious candidate for an everyday house white wine. Rating: 88.

Tasting Notes

Pascual Toso 2016 Finca Pedregal Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon-Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($140) — Connoisseurs generally look to Argentina for high-quality value wines. There's plenty of that to go around, but a growing number of vintners in Argentina aspire to compete with the finest wines in the world, as they should, given the remarkable vineyards at their disposal. Pascual Toso's 2016 Finca Pedregal, 80 percent cab and 20 percent malbec, is an impressive achievement. Richly layered with dark fruits, a note of graphite and smooth, beautifully integrated tannins, it is one of the finest red wines in the world, let alone Argentina. Rating: 97.

Groth 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Oakville ($140) — The previous vintage of reserve cab from Groth was a stunning wine, and the 2015 is as good, if not better. This vintage is robust and muscular, showing layered notes of blackberry and cassis, a hint of graphite and firm tannins. Still tight at this stage, another five to seven years in the cellar would be optimum before serving this wine, though it is certainly drinkable now. Rating: 96.

Wakefield 2017 St. Andrews Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia ($40) — Australia's Clare Valley is home to many of Australia's finest dry rieslings, and I include Wakefield's St. Andrews among them. This vintage offers classic aromas of lime citrus and orange blossom, with a hint of minerality on the nose and mouthwatering acidity that will preserve the wine for more than a decade. And that's the best part. Dry riesling from the Clare Valley evolves over time into a wine with extraordinary complexity and allure. Yes, you could certainly consume it now with pleasure. But for those with the patience to cellar this wine, a remarkable wine experience awaits. Rating: 95.

J Vineyards Brut Rose, Russian River Valley ($45) — The gorgeous J Brut Rose is consistently among the finest sparkling rose wines produced in the USA. This beauty offers succulent aromas of strawberry and spice, a fine mousse, a creamy palate and impressive length on the finish. Rating: 94.

Seven Hills 2016 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley, Washington ($25) — One of the Washington wine industry's best-kept secrets is Seven Hills. Its wines are beautifully balanced and impeccably made across the board. The 2016 merlot is another home run, showing notes of black cherry and red currant, with a fleshy palate, hints of wood spice and supple tannins. For this price, it's a steal. Rating: 93.

Matetic EQ 2014 Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, Chile ($40) — The Casablanca Valley is east of Santiago, Chile, toward the sea and thus cooler than Chile's favored growing regions for cabernet sauvignon and carmenere. That makes it just about perfect for pinot noir, which thrives in slightly cooler conditions that preserve acidity and elegance. The Matetic EQ shows aromas of cherry and wood spice. It is slightly fleshy but with firm acid and the potential for improvement in the cellar. Rating: 91.

Follow Robert on Twitter at @wineguru. To find out more about Robert Whitley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Email Robert at whitleyonwine@yahoo.com.

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