Finding Great Ros Wines
Finding the best Rosé wines is tougher than it’s ever been. Rosé wine is incredibly popular now for both serious wine lovers and the casual wine drinker. This is a relatively new, but welcome, trend in the United States. Europeans, especially the French, have always turned to Rosé when temperatures climb and the beach calls.
In the US, Rosé was looked down upon because of the association with cloying White Zinfandels. All of that has changed though. Today, many wineries are crafting beautifully drinkable pink wines that are dry and complex.
Before we get to our list of the best Rosé wines, here are a few things you should know about drinking the pink stuff.
Its Not White Zinfandel
When a lot of people think of pink wines, they think of white zinfandel, a cloyingly sweet wine that is best reserved for the Solo cups of relatives you dont care much for at family barbecues. True rosés arent all sweet like white zin is. Sure, some can be sweet, but over the last few years, winemakers from around the world have been making rosés across the spectrum of sweet and dry. If the thought of overly sweet wine turns your stomach, never fear. There is still a rosé for you.
Chateau Desclans Whispering Angel Ros
Crack open a bottle of Whispering Angel rosé and you may as well be at a beach club in Europe. This bottling is pretty much a rite of passage for fans of dry rosé wines partying across hotspots like St Tropez and Ibiza. Inside the bottle is the tireless efforts of wine connoisseur Sacha Lichine and his Château dEsclans, which is located in Var, in the heart of Provence.
The label is so iconic in the world of pink wine that Bernard Arnaults LVMH purchased a majority interest in Château dEsclans a few years ago, no doubt giving a nice little bump to the accessible fine wine, which is best known for its greatly pronounced aroma and mellow citrus, fresh strawberry palate. Deeply complex, its a blend of red wine grape varieties Grenache, Cinsault, Vermentino, Syrah, and Tibouren and is widely available in Australia at local retailers that supply alcohol like Dan Murphys and Vintage Cellars.
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Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2020
If its not already, this bottle may become your favorite summer wine. With peppery arugula notes combined with the brightness of crunchy watercress, this rosé is sure to delight any palate, and its delicate effervescence will keep you coming back for more. One panelist said it best: This wine is f*cking delicious. Average price: $24.
Rating: 93
What Is The Taste Of Ros Wine
The taste of a rosé wine can be diverse, but experts agree that they are versions of a red wine, but more subtle. They are usually accompanied by citrus flavors and fruity touches such as watermelon, cherry, strawberry and raspberry.
They can be found from very fruity versions to dry rosé wines, including sparkling rosé wine, there are undoubtedly many options depending on tastes.
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Ross Arent A Trend Theyre Here To Stay
Rosé wines in their varying styles have taken a permanent seat for themselves at tables around the U.S., not to mention beaches, happy hours, parties, and more. Thats why winemakers are deciding it would make the perfect addition to their portfolios, said Harry Hansen, director of winemaking at Sterling Vineyards of California.
La Vieille Ferme Ros 2020
Best party wine
Star rating: 3/5This is made by one of the great wine making families of France, the Perrins, who make some superb wine in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This is their budget range and its always worth buying. Flavours of apricots, pink grapefruit and notes of thyme and rosemary.
Available from:
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Best Spanish: Bodegas Muga Flor De Muga Ros
Region: Spain | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Red and stone fruits, citrus, white blossom, spice
Spain is also a bastion for rosé wines, though they may be labeled rosado. Among the countrys pink offerings, Flor de Muga Rosé is a fine catch for any wine-lover. From the esteemed La Rioja Alta region, the vintners keep traditional practices alive to create a beautiful rosé.
Made entirely of garnacha grapes, the aroma of red fruit draws you in and continues through each long sip of the pale pink wine. This is not a high-volume bottling, and, like many rosés, it doesnt cellar well. Pick it up whenever you can find it and enjoy it right away. For food, follow the winery’s suggestions and pair it with ceviche or a Spanish rice dish, and you won’t be disappointed.
Rosé wines are known as rosado in Spanish and Portuguese, and rosato in Italian. If you see some variation of ros on a wine bottle label, and the wines pink, its a rosé.
Region: California | ABV: 11.5% | Tasting Notes: Strawberry cake, grapefruit zest
Todays boxed wine is not what it was a few decades ago, and there are some rather impressive finds. In the rosé category, Bota Box is a top choice. Its available in a 3-liter box , a 1.5-liter brick , and adorable mini boxes for those who are curious or simply want a few glasses of wine. The sustainable packaging keeps the wine fresh for up to 30 days once open.
Drink Pink With These Picks
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Pretty in pink, rosé wine is an exciting and diverse category. While it’s often associated with the sweetness of inexpensive white zinfandel, this style of wine is no one-trick-pony, and there is so much more to discover. Pink wine is made all over the world and from all varietals of grapes. Though each is different, strawberries are a common flavor, and all are excellent for food pairings.
From sparkling bubbles to dry French Provençal rosés, here are some of the best rosé wine bottles that you’ll want to have chilled and ready to drink.
Region: Provence, France | ABV: 13.5% | Tasting Notes: Lemon, cantaloupe, orange peel, peaches
Backed by the esteem of Frances Provence de Côtes appellation, Chateau dEsclans often receives credit for the renewed interest in rosé wines worldwide. While it enjoys top-of-its-class status, its not overpriced and is surprisingly easy to find.
“I can’t say enough good things about this roséit’s simply the best. It’s perfectly dry but still strikes the right balance of refreshing and fruity and, for me, that tastes like summer in a glass. It was honestly love at first sip and has become my go-to for summer happy hours.” , Senior Editor
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Best Kosher: Drappier Brut Ros Champagne
Courtesy of Wine.com
Region: Urville , Champagne | ABV: 12% | Tasting Notes: Dried fruits, Red flower petals, Pear
This structured, well-balanced rosé Champagne is produced in the Côte des Bar, Champagnes most southerly region. Notes of apple skin, dried fruits, red flower petals, and pear jump from the wines tense, bone dry palate. No dosage is added upon bottling.
“For richer rosé Champagnes, I enjoy them with heartier dishes like tagine, curry, BBQ, or anything charred or smoked, says Johnson.
Tasca Dalmerita Tenuta Regaleali Le Ros Sicilia Igt
This Sicilian rosé is a succulent and adventurous departure from the pale-pink mold. Bold red fruits mix with wet rock and mineral aromas. The palate is equally powerful, with lashings of tart wild strawberries. Its affordable and you can find it everywhere this is perfect pizza wine. Average price $14.
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How Is Ros Made
Unlike Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir, Rosé is not a grape variety. No matter how many vineyards you explore, you will never find a pink grape. To nip another common Rosé misconception in the bud, you do not make pink wine by mixing red and white wine together.
Whenever you crush a grape, either red or white, the juice comes out clear. To give a wine colour, you leave it soaking with the skin of the grape in a process called maceration.
Rosé is created by lightly crushing red grapes, and only leaving the grape juice to macerate with the red skins for a short period of time. Depending on what flavours and colour you want in your Rosé, maceration could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The longer the red grape skins are left soaking with the juice, the darker the finished Rosé will be. Typically, darker Rosés will also have more of the deeper flavours and more tannic qualities of red wine.
Rosé can be made using any red grape variety. The most common wine varietals in New Zealand are Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Unusually, some New Zealand wine producers are making Rosé using Pinot Gris.
How Old Should Ros Be
Rosé should be enjoyed relatively young. The 2017 vintage bottles will be arriving in the shops soon, but the 2016 bottles still taste good. In fact, the best pinks actually taste better with a little time in the bottle. But largely these are not wines for keeping, and you should be aware that their clear glass bottles can leave their delicate contents susceptible to damage from sunlight which is why you should never buy rosé that has been kept in a shop window.
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Williams Chase Selladore Ros: Best Ros From A Non
Price: £22 |
Williams Chase is best known for its award-winning British vodka, but this crisp and fruity Provençal rosé is just as good a blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault grapes that slips down far too easily on a warm summers day. With delicate notes of peach and grapefruit and a herbal freshness that balances the ripe fruits, it goes a treat with any kind of salad. We love the bottle too you might well find yourself refilling it with olive oil or sloe gin.
Key specs ABV: 13% Country of origin: France
Where Is Ros Grown
Because of the way wine was made, most of the earliest known red wines probably had more in common with modern Rosé than todays Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. Because Rosé has more to do with how wine is made than a single grape variety, most of the worlds famous wine regions like Frances Bordeaux and Burgundy, or Calabria and Sicily in Italy also produce Rosé.
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Wlffer Estate Summer In A Bottle Ros
If you see this wine on store shelves anywhere, snag as many bottles as you can. A few summers ago, the wineryyes, the winery, not just wine storessold out of the Long Islandmade rosé in less than two months. If you can’t find it though, don’t be discouraged, Wölffer makes several other roséssome even at lower price pointsthat are just as delicious, if not as frenzy-inducing.
Alpha Estate Hedgehog Single Vineyard Ros 2020
Alpha Estate, a sustainable winery located in the northwest corner of Greece, has consistently impressed the VinePair team with its standout bottles. Its 2016 Xinomavro took first place on our top 50 wines of 2020 list, and its rosé similarly stood out as one of the best. This wines bouquet of strawberries and flowers is reminiscent of pink wines from Provence, but its salinity and quiet minerality reflect the terroir of Greece. Average price: $21.
Rating: 94
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What Is Ros Wine
If white wine comes from white grapes and red wine from red grapes, rosé must come from pink grapes, right? Nature doesnt make pink grapes, and rosé wines are actually made from red grapes. This style of wine is more about the winemakers method than grape varietals.
There are four different methods to producing rosé wine. One leaves the grape skins in the juice for a short time. Another creates a lighter color by pressing the juice and skins and removing the skins right away. For the saingée process, a little red wine juice is bled off and used for red wine, while the remainder becomes a lighter-colored rosé. In contrast, some winesincluding many rosé Champagnesare actually a blend or red and white wines.
Best Sweet: Castello Del Poggio Sweet Ros
Region: Italy | ABV: 7% | Tasting Notes: Floral, berry, apricot, tropical fruit
When you’re looking for a sweet, budget-friendly rosé, turn to Castello del Poggio Sweet Rosé. It comes from an Italian winery that specializes in sweet wines, including some nice Moscatos, so you know they do it right.
This lovely rosé is sweet, but it’s also invigorating and delicately approachable. Youll enjoy an array of light fruits like cantaloupe, white peach, and pomegranate, and an acidity that complements its sweetness. It’s nice with any summer cuisine and makes an excellent dessert wine, especially with strawberries or ice cream. This rosé is also ideal for wine cocktails try it in a rosé berry bliss to instantly brighten up any party.
Region: California | ABV: 13% | Tasting Notes: Raspberry, strawberry, spice, citrus
For those who have a taste that leans toward the drier side of wine, Edna Valley Vineyard Rosé is an excellent choice. This California rosé is one that fans of pinot grigio will appreciate. The winery specializes in chardonnay, though the rosé is produced with four red wine grape varietals, so it bridges the gap wonderfully.
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Halcyon Wines California Cabernet Franc 2018
A rosé-esque red for the rosé-averse, this deep pink juice tastes like strawberry jam flecked with freshly cracked black pepper. It will impress your natural wine-loving friends with its tangy appeal and will pair nicely with everything from saucy barbecue to zippy noodles. Average price: $25.
Rating: 93
Buying Guide For Best Ros Wine
When youre in the mood for a relaxing adult beverage but cant choose between red wine and white, why not compromise and enjoy a bit of both? Rosé is a pink wine made around the world from any number of grape varietals and blends, resulting in a delicious drink that may be sweet, savory, fruity, or dry. Just like red and white wines, there are many different varieties of rosé, meaning that whatever your palate preferences youre likely to find a rosé for you.
There are a few different ways to make rosé, although the pink color is always achieved by allowing red grape skins to macerate with their juices. The winemaker can control how long this process takes, resulting in lighter shades of pink or deeper hues that trend toward red. Rosés are served chilled like white wines and are perfect for al fresco drinking in warm weather.
Our buying guide goes in-depth on the versatility of rosé and all its various fruity, floral, and spicy flavors. For our five favorite bottles of this favorite summer drink, see the matrix above.
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Hecht & Bannier Languedoc Ros
Like eating strawberries on the beach, this wine smells of wild berries seasoned with a spray of sea water. The palate is crisp and acidic, but a rich fruit core softens its hard edges. Let the salty aromas guide your food pairing: This wine has seafood platter written all over it. Average price: $14.
Ferrari Brut Sparkling Ros
“This Ferrari Brut Sparkling Rosé Brut is a reminder that every day is worth celebrating. You’ll taste a nice balance of flavors: wild strawberry, orange peel, sweet almonds and biscotti. This wine is a blend of 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay, and it’s dry and elegant for any occasion that needs a little sparkle.
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Best Under $: Thibaud Boudignon Ros De Loire
vervewine
Rosé of cabernet franc? You bet. This pink is produced from organic and biodynamically farmed fruit in the heart of the Loire Valley. Savory and fresh, the wine boasts flavors of strawberry skin, red currants, white pepper and crushed rocks. Serve chilled with a variety of happy hour snacks, including Mediterranean-inspired mezze or cheese boards.
“You can enjoy wine on many levels: the color, the aromas, the palate,” says Jermaine Stone, President and CEO of Cru Luv Selections. “I love the crisp acidity of a salmon-colored rosé with some chill on it.”
Best For Happy Hour: Ameztoi Rubentis
Wine.com
Never heard of Txakolina rosé before? Dont let the name intimidate youthis juice is easy-drinking, delicious and fun. Produced from equal parts hondarrabi beltza and hondarrabi zuri, this slightly spritzy rosé boasts flavors of citrus juice, strawberry skin, crushed rocks, white flowers and sea spray.
“If I’m drinking rosé on a hot summer afternoon, I look for something refreshing and high-acid, maybe even a little spritzy,” says Frick. Serve this saline-tinged wine with oysters, sashimi or all things fried.
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Domaines Ott Chateau De Selle Cotes De Provence Coeur De Grain Ros
This medium-bodied Provence rosé from Domaines Ott is blended with Shiraz, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Grenache worked beautifully to produce a very complex wine with an orange-pink hue. Expect a lot of minerality on the nose overlaid by fresh cherries, peach and honeydew, connected with a palate of juicy red berries, citrus fruits, and a surprising show of lavender. Theres a depth of character to this wine that will likely surprise , especially when that long finish leaves behind traces of melon and blood orange.
