Pale & Interesting: 16 Of The Best Rosés For Summer
La Vie En Rosé: served ice cold, light, crisp and refreshing Rosé is the ultimate summer drink, whether sparkling or still.
As the summer slowly ebbs away, there is no drink more appealing than a good ice-cold glass of crisp rosé. Light, floral and fresh, it quenches our thirst and delights our senses – all while evoking the spirit of Provence, from where many of the very palest varieties hail. Gone are the days when rosé meant dark pinks with a lingeringly sweet, headache-inducing after-taste. Modern rosés are subtle and breezy affairs, made for drinking from under a parasol under the gaze of the hot sun or just dreaming about it.
Whether you plump for the original French or an English variety, these are the rosés on our radar this summer.
A summer favourite from the vineyard owned by William Chase of Tyrrells Potato Chips and Chase Distillery fame. A silky texture, this wine exudes stone fruit and citrus fruit aromas. Buy it here.
This is Peyrassol's bestselling rosé globally and 2022 is the first vintage to be certified organic. It's elegant and floral with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry and tangy citrus. The crisp, lively flavours pair beautifully with fresh fish – particularly salmon or scallops. Buy it here.
This quintessentially dry Provence rosé heralds from the Daylesford/Bamford clan. Pale in colour with light pinkish reflections, it has a delicate nose with notes of peach and stone fruits. Pair with fish, shellfish, salads, lightly spiced foods and Mediterranean style dishes. Buy it here.
Minuty is another perennial favourite that finds its way into our shopping baskets every summer. First hitting the shelves thirty years ago, it was a forerunner in making a new style of rosé, based on freshness. Since then, these wines have become the benchmark for today’s most popular style of rosé – refreshingly crisp and delicate Provence pink. This is gold standard drinking, where the grapes are still hand-picked and Minuty is also one of only eighteen to be designated Cru Classé – the best of the best. Buy it here.
Pink Diesel is a classic Provence rosé, crisp and refreshing, with notes of honey, peach and citrus undertones. A labour of love, its grapes are harvested on a family-run vineyard in Bandol, blending Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah. Despite hailing from an iconic rosé region, there is a British touch too; it is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Amy Gatehouse and Marina Ayton. The perfect tipple to transport you to the South of France in a sip. Buy it here.
This rosé has notes of wild strawberry, stone fruit, tangerine and crisp white flowers. Brad Pitt has a majority share in the vineyard but it's notoriety truly belongs to the prestigious Perrin family, who are one of the most respected wine makers in the Rhône Valley. Buy it here.
Another rosé, another Provencal pink that is so exquisitely pale it has become the standard against which all pretenders are now measured. Created at the Château d’Escalans, it is dry, clean and offers up delicious citrus and herbal notes, all thanks to its blend of Grenache, Cinasault and Rolle. We can’t speak highly enough of it. Buy it here.
Like what you tasted with Whispering Angel but want to try something different from the same producer? Enter The Pale by Sacha Lichine, which Waitrose calls, ‘an expressive, aromatic and elegant blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes that grow parallel to the Mediterranean coast where their salty, sun-drenched soils give the wine a dry yet fruity character.’ In other words, a oenophile’s summer heaven. Buy it here.
Produced in the Langedoc region of France and made from 100 per cent Cinsault, Amie Rosé is packed with red berry flavours and cherry blossom, all with a fresh and lively palette. A great companion for fish or grilled chicken, it makes the ultimate al fresco summer lunch party drink. We adore the fresh and breezy bottle design too. Buy it here.
Behold this beautiful bottle – if it didn’t contain the pink stuff, we’d almost want it on our dressing tables filled with garden-inspired scent. As it is, we’ll take its delicate, floral notes with a hint of spice. Mainly made from the Syrah and Rolle grapes, see if you can taste the Provençal raspberry, blood orange, berry pie, fresh violet and geranium lingering beautifully on your lips. Buy it here.
Grown on the Kentish Hush Heath Estate, this delicate rosé is made up from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay – the classic Champagne blend, though this comes minus the bubbles. Look out for notes of pear, strawberries and apple, along a citrussy zing. In other words, a deliciously cooling drink on a hot day. Buy it here.
Chapel Down in Kent has been a stellar force in the world of English wines for many years. Its whites are the stuff of legend. But do not neglect its lovely rosé this summer. Waitrose Cellar says of it, ‘This excellent rosé shows pure strawberry aromas on the nose and the palate follows through with juicy, fruity notes of strawberry and red fruits. A very refreshing wine.’ Buy it here.
Made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, this delectable sparkling wine is ideal for slipping into the season’s spirit. Its soft summer berries speak of high summer, while the creamy and rounded texture lend it a luxurious quality. As Gusborne says, ‘We like to think of this as the perfect expression of halcyon days.’ Buy it here.
Hailing from a Cotswolds vineyard comes this highly drinkable rosé, which is zesty, complex and full of summer berry fruit. The perfect off-dry aperitif as the sun begins to make its nightly descent. Buy it here.
Silver winner at WineGB Awards 2023, Fitzrovia Rosé is an excellent bottle of sparkling wine. The Chardonnay grapes make it feel crisp, while the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier deliver the notes of redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, red apple, rhubarb crumble and pink grapefruit. East Sussex-based Ridgeview began creating its champagne-rivalling wines in 1995, which is to say back when few people had faith in the British wine industry. Fast forward to today and it is thriving. We’ll drink to that. Buy it here.
We first came across this in a pub and to our delight found that you could buy it from Fenwick, whose online shopping service, we highly recommend. This is a fruity rosé, best, in our minds, served super chilled. It's not as dry as its Provencal cousins, but delightfully clean and crisp. One to order on repeat, we say and it adds a bit of variety into your rosé drinking. Buy it here.
Rosé on the go
Got a picnic planned or want to catch the setting sun? There's nothing easier than putting some cans or a box of wine in the fridge and then you're ready to go. Here are some of our favourites and they're planet friendly too.
Mirabeau's reputation is long-standing and is a go-to rosé for many. Organic and pale in colour, this refreshing rosé from the South of France brings back memories of Provençe, even if you're sitting on a beach in the UK. Buy it here.
Wine company, Nice, makes it easy to find good wines and this canned rosé is one of them. Perfect for parties, it is crisp to drink with hints of elderflower, recommended by Jane MacQuitty of The Times. Buy it here.
If you like bubbles, try The Uncommon's Bubbly which is made from English pinot noir grapes with a touch of hedgerow scent thrown in for good measure. Buy it here.
Made on a small estate in the wooded hills north of Aix-en-Provence, this crisp rosé is a blend of organic Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. It has aromas of strawberries, raspberries, and violets, and flavours of fresh red fruits. It’s perfect as an aperitif or is goes well with salads, grilled fish, or British ham. Buy it here.
La Vielle Ferme has been one of TikTok's trending buys this summer, referred to as 'chicken wine.' It's well priced and you can buy it in a box, which makes life very easy if you're out having a picnic. Made by the Famille Perrin of Château de Beaucastel fame, this rosé makes for light quaffing, with a delicate bouquet. Buy it here.
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