Live chat
Read on to discover all you need to know to start enjoying UK’s fastest growing wine style … rosé.
A quick confession. I’ve always enjoyed a glass of rosé on occasion, but I didn’t give it the respect it deserves until recently. But then one day, everything changed …
My perfect rosé moment (PRM) came on a rare sunny afternoon in June 2024. We’d invited the neighbours for an al fresco lunch (in part to show off our new patio furniture), and I’d bought a magnum of the Le Rosé de la Clarière for the occasion.
Fresh from the fridge, it looked stunning – the oversized clear-glass bottle, misted with condensation, revealing the beautiful pale pink liquid within. Picture-perfect refreshment.
I forget what we ate. It would have been vegan – in deference to our guests. But I do remember the wine. The delicate summer berry aromas, the citrus fruit dancing on the tongue … then a crisp mineral finish that set the palate up perfectly for the next sip.
And that was it. My love for rosé was well and truly kindled.
The rosé revival
But at least I wasn’t alone in ignoring rosé for too long. Pink wines suffered a bad rep for decades among the chattering classes – a throwback to the time when supermarket shelves were packed with sweet, sticky bottles of a certain Portuguese plonk.
Rosé is now the fastest-growing wine category in the UK, and there’s more choice than ever before. From pale Provence pinks and elegant Bordeaux rosés to ripe, fruity styles from Portugal, Australia and beyond, there’s a style and shade for every palate. And don’t forget sparkling rosés – the ultimate romantic tipple.
How is rosé made?
You might think that rosé wine is simply made by blending red and white wines. But while that does happen in some cases – it’s not the most common method. So before we look at popular styles of rosé, here are three main ways to make them:
Limiting skin contact: most rosé wines are made from fermenting red grapes – and separating the juice from the skins before they have taken on much colour. This method is used to produce the elegant pale pinks of Provence and Bordeaux.
Saignée method: Similar to above, but the pressed juice is left in contact with the grape skins for a few days before fermentation. The pink juice is then drained off and fermented as usual.
Blending: some rosé wines – most notably Champagne – are in fact made by blending red and white wines after fermentation. This might seem the easy option – but it is in fact a very skilled job to get just the right shade for your favourite pink fizz.
What are the most popular styles of rosé wine?
Almost every region and every country that makes wine produces a rosé. It’s just that some are better known than others. Provence, for example, is known almost exclusively for rosé. Burgundy, on the other hand, does produce some rosé wines – but they’re extremely rare.
The classic one – Provence rosé
If one region can be said to have led the rosé revival, it's Provence. This picturesque region in southwest France is famous for its elegant, citrusy rosés with summer berry flavours. But what stands out most about them is their beautiful pale pink colour. This is no accident. The region’s winemakers got together in the 1990s and decided on a set of agreed practices, to ensure that quality and style (including colour) was consistent across the board.
It was a successful strategy, and Provence rosé quickly became the UK’s favourite. You know what to expect, and you can be sure you won’t get a bad bottle. You can find out more on our Provence rosé page – along with a great selection of wines to choose from.
Is Provence rosé right for me? If you like crisp, elegant whites, but you’re looking for something with a little more red berry fruit – Provence rosé is a great option.
The modern, fruity one – deeper pink rosés
Although Provence set the style for pale pink rosés, many winemakers still like to make deeper coloured pinks. These bridge the gap between a red and a white – offering more pronounced red fruit flavours. For this style of pink, look to Australia, where the Shiraz grape makes deep, peppery rosés that go down a treat with barbecued meats.
Is fruity rosé for me? If you like vibrant flavours and a rosé with more body, a modern, fruity rosé won't disappoint.
The romantic one – Sparkling rosé
Rosé comes in sparkling form, too. Not least from Champagne, where it accounts for around 5% of the bottles produced. Unusually for a rosé wine, pink Champagne is made by blending white wines (made from Chardonnay) with red (made from Pinot Noir and Meunier).
It’s hard to think of a more romantic style of wine than pink Champagne. With its pale pink colour, fine streams of bubbles, aromas of red berry fruit and biscuity brioche notes, it adds a sense of luxury to any occasion. And of course, there are many other countries and regions that produce excellent pink bubbly as you’ll find on our sparkling wine page.
Is sparkling rosé right for me? If you’re looking for a delightful fizz with the added dimension of a lovely pink colour and softer red berry fruit – sparkling rosé will hit the spot.
The happy accident – White Zinfandel
Zinfandel is one of the signature grape varieties of the US – and is usually known for making deeply coloured intense red wines. That was – until Californian winemaker Bob Trinchero accidentally created a rosé by draining the juice off the skins too early during fermentation. This produced a deep pink rosé with softer colour and sweeter taste. White Zinfandel quickly became a style icon – the must-have pink to be seen drinking poolside in the sunshine state.
Is White Zinfandel right for me? If you'e looking for a really easy-drinking rosé with ripe red fruit, a touch of sweetness and modest alcohol, White Zinfandel will hit the spot. It's the perfect party pink.
Other classic rosé styles
There are many other classic rosés to look out for, including some lesser-known treasures and some top spots for bargains. Here are some of my favourites:
Bordeaux rosé: no surprises here if you read the intro! Bordeaux rosé has been around just as long as its famous reds. Cabernet and Merlot are perfect for the style, producing elegant rosés in varied shades, with lovely summer berry fruit.
Spanish rosado: Spain’s most famous region for rosé, Navarra lies just next door to Rioja. Most Spanish rosados are made from the Garnacha grape (aka Grenache) which lends a lovely peppery spice to the wines, alongside crunchy blackcurrant fruit.
Italian rosato: some of my favourite Italian pinks come from the sunny Island of Sicily – wonderfully fruity pinks like w/o rosato, just made for sunshine sipping.
You’ll also find fabulous rosés made around the world – from Chile, New Zealand and South Africa for example – from a wide range of grape varieties. For more inspiration (including food matching suggestions) check out our blogs Popular Types of Rosé Wine and Our favourite dry rosé wines to enjoy this summer.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
