Rosé

Rosé

For me, rosé instantly evokes a summery feeling and the heat of sunshine. Its popularity has hugely increased over the last decade, and there are some real gems to be discovered.

Wines featured

For similar bottles to Saint Tropez Rosé 2020

Made from a blend of grapes in the Saint Tropez region of France.

Tesco Finest Sancerre Rosé, £12

Made from Pinot Noir grapes in the Sancerre region of France.

Rosé

We have largely to thank the Provence region in the south of France for the increasing popularity of rosé; this region produces wines that are on the paler side. Part of the appeal is you get the best of both worlds, with the freshness of white combined with a touch of fruit from the red.

Rosé is normally made with mostly red grapes, including Grenache, Syrah and Cinsaut, and its signature pale-pink colour comes from extracting the clear juice and only leaving it in contact with the red grape skins for a short time.

As well as Provence, there are many other places that produce amazing rosé – and the Sancerre region in France is one to look out for.

The colour of rosé is rarely an indication of flavour, as even a rosé with lots of colour might still be bone dry – but generally speaking, most of the rosé we drink now is crisp, dry and refreshing.

Serving rosé with ice is purely down to preference. It's best enjoyed outside in the sun, so if you like it to be really chilled, ice can help to keep it at a cold temperature for longer.

Your assignment

While we have Provence to thank for putting rosé firmly on our wine lists, there are plenty of other regions to try. Seek out a rosé from a place that you've never tried before – perhaps Australia or South Africa.