Summer isn’t quite here yet, but we can feel it in the air. And with the sunny days and longer evenings, there’s nothing better than a glass of rosé to complement the mood. Fresh, fruity, and flavourful, these are perfect aperitif wines, though they can also be served with your favourite seasonal dishes, too. Here are some of the highlights from this year’s rosé selection.
A region that truly blooms during the summer months, Provence is home to some of France’s very best rosé production. Labelled with the Côtes-de-Provence appellation, we’ve got pink cuvées from Château La Mascaronne, Château d’Esclans Garrus, and Domaine Ott. If you’re having people over for a spring soirée, we recommend the cuvée spéciale Des Vignettes from Clos Cibonne. The region’s gorgeous Bandol wines are also featured here, with Domaine de la Bégude’s L’Irréductible and Thyrsus cuvées, as well as the characterful produce of Terrebrune’s Delille family. An iconic bottle to conclude? Château Simone’s 2021 Palette is an exceptional rosé bursting with flavour and finesse.
It’s always hard to leave the south, so we’re still in Provence, as we’re yet to mention some of the more pleasingly priced gems in store. If you’re serving tapas, the Bandol wines from La Tour du Bon and Château Pradeaux are deliciously safe bets. Otherwise, the Côtes-de-Provence from Château de Miraval Studio and Château des Garcinières also hold their own.
It might be a little surprising, but the Loire is another region known for its excellent rosé. The refreshing Sancerre wines that await include rosés from Lucien Crochet, Gérard Boulay, and the Chavignol from Matthieu Delaporte, a young and talented vintner who has really elevated the domain since his arrival. If you’ve got something to celebrate, why not try the VDF Bulles de BD by Bruno Dubois or a gorgeous pink version of Jacky Blot’s sparkling Triple Zéro.
Coppa, Figatellu, Panzetta…the Ile de la Beauté has some curious local varieties in store. Corsican rosés in their 2020 vintage include Clos Canarelli’s Petit Clos, Yves Leccia’s IGP Ile de Beauté, and Comte Abatucci’s Valle di Nero. Light on the palate and a nice ambiance setter, Clos Venturi’s 1796 cuvée and Jean-François Renucci’s Clos Poggiale are also waiting to be discovered.
For special occasions, Champagne’s rosé expressions are likely to go down really well. We’ve got Miraval’s Brut Exclusivement Rosé as well as magnificent cuvées from Veuve Clicquot. For a festive wine at a more pleasing price, there’s Francis Boulard’s ‘rosé de saignée’ and the extra brut rosé Oeil de Perdrix from Maison Dehours et Fils.
Feeling generous? Rosés even come in big bottles, you know! For a table brimming with guests, we recommend a magnum of IGP Méditerranée from Domaine Triennes, a Côtes-de-Provence from Clos Cibonne, or a Corail cuvée from Château de Roquefort. If you’re after something even more impressive, there are double-magnums from Clos Canarelli and Domaine Rimauresq.
Finishing off with a little trip abroad, let’s head to Italy with Marchesi Antinori’s Bolgheri Rosato Scalabrone, then on to Spain where Sara Perez & Rene Barbier’s Monsant Venus la Universal Dido La Solucio awaits. And finally, a village between these two countries…Jonquières! The Languedoc region is proudly represented here by its beloved Domaine Mas Jullien.
