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Fruity and refreshing, these are the best vinos for sipping when the sun’s out
While the best rosé wines can certainly be enjoyed year-round, a drop of the pink stuff tastes just that little bit better in the summer sunshine.
Styles of rosé vary enormously from region to region, let alone country to country. The French Provençal output remains the most notable and of the most reliable quality, so, you’ll find plenty of such options included here. However, Spain and Italy also produce brilliant bottles, not to mention Greece, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the US, Austria, and even England.
People often debate whether a lighter or darker hue is better but the truth is they both bring totally different flavours to the table. Using the ‘skin contact’ method, rosé gets its colour when the grape skins sit in the freshly pressed grape juice for anywhere between two to 24 hours (sometimes longer).
The eventual pigment will also depend on the grape used and how dark the skins are. Cabernet sauvignon has a super dark purple tone, whereas pinot grigio has an extremely light pink saturation, for example. While darker rosés typically offer deeper, bolder and more concentrated flavours, lighter variations can be super refreshing.
When made well, rosé is seductively fruity and elegant and makes an underrated companion for a variety of dishes. So, without further ado, let’s dive into a plethora of pink.
The best way to enjoy a glass of rosé is when it’s nice and chilled, but not too cold. Typically, 12-14C is the sweet spot, so that’s exactly what we did. Each rosé was tasted around three times (spitting not swallowing) and rated based on taste, texture, finish and overall experience.
Aidy Smith is an award-winning presenter, journalist and drinks personality. His core fields of interest and expertise include drink, food, travel, lifestyle, LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity topics.
We’d happily drink any of these rosés, particularly when the sun’s out. However, the Château La Gordonne rosé is a sophisticated wine we’d make room in our fridge for year-round. For a gourmet Provence rosé, Chateau Des Sarrins rosé grand cuvée is wonderfully thirst-quenching and food-friendly.
Read our edit of the best low-alcohol wines that mean you can cut down without missing out