The Best Rosé Wines To Enjoy This Summer, Not From Provence
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Rosé season is here, so here's our guide to the best rosé wines to enjoy this summer that do not hail from Provence.
When the sun comes out, who doesn’t reach for the rosé? Globally, consumption of the pink wine has steadily grown by 17% over the past 20 or so years (according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine) but despite its year-round quaffability, summer is when rosé really shines. On a sunny day, I challenge you to walk past any outdoor terrace and not find multiple glasses of pale pink Provencal cluttering the tabletops.
There’s a reason pale Provence rosé does so well – it has many of the refreshing qualities you want from a summer drink; it’s light, crisp and fruity, plus it’s aesthetically pleasing so ticks the ‘I must take a photo of everything I eat and drink for social media’ box.
However, rosé doesn’t have to be pale, and it doesn’t have to come from Provence either. There are some equally delicious dry rosé wines from around the world that I implore you to take a punt on…while punting, down a river, on a hot summer’s day. Now that would make a good Instagram shot!
If you don’t feel you can stray from the ubiquitous paler style of rosé, then try looking just outside Provence. Try wines from Languedoc-Roussillon or the Rhone for a better value sip. For those unafraid to explore darker coloured rosé – England, France, Spain, Italy, and Argentina all have some great summer rosé drinking options in all hues of pink. Here are six of the best rosé wines for summer, all with food pairing recommendations, and all from outside Provence.
The Best Rosé Wines
You don’t normally associate Piquepoul with Rosé. Picpoul de Pinet is the largest white wine producing area in the Languedoc and exclusively grows the Picpoul Blanc grape, which delivers the zesty white wine that also tends to make an appearance when the sun shines. However, there is a small amount of the Piquepoul Noir grape planted here. Usually used as a blending partner for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the grape, when vinified on its own, produces a beautifully delicate rosé.
This has a fitting floral nose of rose petals and cherry blossom with a refreshingly zesty palate of lemon, grapefruit and ripe strawberry, making it the first of the best rosé wines in my line up.
Food pairing: Shellfish or a tangy goats cheese.
Piquepoul Rosé Foncalieu 2023, Languedoc
£13.95
A pale pink in colour, this Piquepoul rosé has a delicate nose of cherry blossom, strawberries and peaches. The palate is wonderfully fresh with summer...… read more
Font Barriele "Les Vignes d'Heloise" Rosé
This organic rosé wine from the Costières de Nîmes region in France is made from grapes grown in vineyards nestled in a nature zone designated to protect the little bustard bird featured on the bottle label. It will appeal to fans of Whispering Angel thanks to its similar blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsault, and Vermentino with the addition of Syrah. However, because it sits just outside the iconic rosé region of Provence it offers much better value for money. Pale like its brand leading competitor but with slightly more expressive flavours of cherry, pear and spice – thanks to the Syrah – it’s refreshing, refined and suited to long sunny afternoons spent dining al fresco.
Food pairing: Asparagus and lighter meats grilled on the BBQ.
Font Barriele "Les Vignes d'Heloise" Rosé 2022, Costières de Nîmes
£12.65
This is a perfectly pale pink rosé from the organic vineyards of Christian and Caroline Gourjon. Their estate sits at the confluence of Arels, Nimes,...… read more
While this elegant, quintessentially English rosé is made in Devon, the Pinot Noir grapes come from Essex, specifically from vineyards in the Crouch Valley, which has been described by Jancis Robinson as England’s answer to the Cote D’or. Robust in colour thanks to six hours of skin contact, and refined in taste, it’s bursting with aromas of strawberries and raspberries with the addition of creaminess on the palate, balanced with a refreshing acidity giving a pleasingly rounded finish.
Food pairing: It’s bolder flavours would stand up to a creamy chicken or pasta dish, as well as smoked salmon.
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Devon
£20.00
This is a refined and elegant rosé with subtle notes of red berry fruit and a soft creamy finish on the palate. It is made...… read more
Although recognised as an AOC since 1937, Beaujolais rosé has only become popular in more recent years, with sales volumes increasing by 35% in just 4 years.
This rosé from the Descombe family vineyards is not only made from organic Gamay grapes but it’s a natural wine, so is produced without the use of additives. Natural wine naysayers shouldn’t be put off however, this is wonderfully smooth and juicy with none of the funkiness you might expect from wines vinified naturally. This is a really thirst-quenching wine with red cherry and raspberry flavours and a refreshing citrus hit.
It's also produced by the first woman winemaker to make the Forbes Top 40 Women list in 2024 – Marine Descombe.
Food pairing: Any fish served ceviche
Miss Gamay Rosé 2023
£16.65
Miss Gamay, like her sister Miss Chardo, is an organic and natural wine from the Descombe family vineyards in Beaujolais. This Gamay rosé was pressed...… read more
Domaine Maby "La Fermade" Rosé
Known more for its bold reds than rosé, the tiny Rhone appellation of Lirac offers some great gastronomic wines made from grapes grown in soil laden with galets (pebbles) that reflect the sun during the day and release heat during the night. Consequently, the region’s rosé wines tend to be fruitier, fuller bodied and much richer in colour.
Domaine Maby produces wines of this style but, in a bid to create a rosé more appealing to those with paler preferences, talented winemaker Richard Maby (who has been named Guide Hachette best winemaker in the region) came up with this. The Cinsault and Grenache blend still packs a punch in terms of is bright berry fruit but is a more stylish shade of light pink.
Food pairing: Try with Asian food – it would pair particularly well with a crispy duck and watermelon salad.
Domaine Maby "La Fermade" Rosé 2023, Lirac
£15.75
Here is a full bodied rosé made from a blend of Cinsault (80%) and Grenache (20%). The vineyards are in the Southern Rhône village of...… read more
While traditional Argentine rosés were once known for a claret-style with sweeter, potent flavours, modern styles are more Provençal style hue and have a lighter, more balanced palate.
My final selection for the best rosé wines comes from the high-altitude Tupungato Valley region of Mendoza. It is right at the foot of the Andes mountains with an elevation of 1,200 meters, has a bright and intense rose, almost violet colour. The high altitude of the vineyard, coupled with strong daytime sunlight provides a sharp contrast between day and night temperatures. This together with a long, cool growing season for the Malbec grapes and some excellent winemaking by Julia Halupzcok, aided by consultant Matias Michelini, makes for a particularly expressive rosé with summer fruit salad aromas and an explosive yet velvety smooth palate of redcurrants, raspberries red cherries and blackberries.
Food pairing: Grilled seafood and, for a Argentinian twist, warm grilled chorizo.
Malbec Rosé ‘ES Vino’, Mendoza 2022
£15.75
Located in the high altitude Tupungato Valley region of Mendoza, this modern winery benefits from a long, cool growing season and strong UV sunlight that...… read more
Think a little outside the box this summer and enjoy the best rosé wines from beyond Provence.
