The Best Rosé Wines from Beyond Provence
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Rosé is one of those wines that attracts attention when the sun comes out. Consumption has risen steadily over the past couple of decades, and on any warm day you only need to glance at a restaurant terrace to see how popular pale pink Provençal rosé has become. The best rosé wines, however, have little to do with fashion or colour and everything to do with balance, freshness and drinkability.
There is a good reason for that. Provençal rosé is light, crisp and easy to drink. But it is not the only style worth seeking out, and it is certainly not the only place where good rosé is made.
What makes a good summer rosé?
Beyond Provence, there is a wide range of dry, food-friendly rosé that offers just as much refreshment, often with more character and better value. England, Italy, Spain and parts of southern France all produce rosé that deserves more attention.
How to choose a good rosé
Choosing a good rosé is often easier if you ignore the colour. Very pale wines can be refreshing, but depth of colour does not automatically mean heaviness, just as paleness does not guarantee quality.
When it comes to choosing well, the best rosé wines usually share a few things in common:
they are dry rather than sweet
they have enough acidity to stay fresh
they show some structure rather than tasting thin
they feel made with food in mind
Above all, good rosé should feel deliberate. If it tastes like a by-product, it probably is.
Below is a selection of rosé wines from outside Provence, chosen because they are balanced, refreshing and genuinely enjoyable to drink, qualities that define the best rosé wines.
You can see the full range of rosé wines currently available at Wickhams
The best rosé wines
Piquepoul Rosé Foncalieu, Languedoc
You do not normally associate Piquepoul with rosé. Picpoul de Pinet is better known for its zesty white wines, but a small amount of Piquepoul Noir is planted here too. Vinified on its own, it produces a delicate, fresh rosé.
There are floral aromas of rose petals and cherry blossom, followed by a lively palate of lemon, grapefruit and ripe strawberry.
Style: dry, fresh, lightly aromatic
Best with: shellfish or tangy goats cheese
Piquepoul Rosé Foncalieu 2024, Languedoc
£14.50
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, Costières de Nîmes
This organic rosé from Costières de Nîmes blends Grenache Noir, Cinsault and Vermentino with a splash of Syrah. It shares some of the refined, refreshing qualities associated with Provence, but with more expressive flavours of cherry, pear and gentle spice.
It has enough structure to hold its own at the table.
Style: dry, structured, gently aromatic
Best with: asparagus or lightly grilled meats
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
Out of Stock
Domaine Maby Prima Donna Rosé, Tavel
Tavel is one of the few appellations in France devoted entirely to rosé, and it takes the style seriously. This wine from Domaine Maby is deeper in colour and fuller in body than many pale rosés, with aromas of red fruit and citrus.
On the palate it has concentration and a silky structure, making it well suited to the table rather than just aperitif drinking.
Style: full-bodied, structured, gastronomic
Best with: Mediterranean dishes, spiced food or grilled meats
Domaine Maby "Prima Donna" 2024, Tavel
£19.50
Tavel is renowned as a deeply coloured rosé from the Southern Rhône. The antithesis of pale Provence rosé, this is a fruit forward, full-bodied, age-worthy...… read more
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir Rosé, Devon
An elegant English rosé made with Pinot Noir from Essex’s Crouch Valley. It is deeper in colour thanks to longer skin contact and opens with aromas of strawberries and raspberries.
The palate is rounded and well balanced, with fresh acidity that keeps it focused rather than heavy.
Style: dry, precise, fruit-driven
Best with: smoked salmon, creamy chicken or pasta dishes
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir Rosé 2024, Devon
£24.50
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
Miss Gamay Rosé, Beaujolais
Beaujolais rosé has quietly grown in popularity, and this example from the Descombe family vineyards is organic and made in a natural style. It is smooth and juicy with flavours of red cherry and raspberry, lifted by a refreshing citrus note.
There is no overt funk, making it an easy introduction to lighter, low-intervention wines.
Style: juicy, soft-textured, refreshing
Best with: fish dishes served ceviche-style
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, Lirac
From a small appellation in the southern Rhône that is better known for bold reds, this rosé is fruitier and deeper in colour than many. Despite that, it remains fresh and well balanced, with bright berry flavours and good acidity.
It is a versatile wine that works well beyond simple aperitif drinking.
Style: dry, fuller-flavoured, food-friendly
Best with: Asian-inspired dishes such as crispy duck with 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
Malbec Rosé ‘ES Vino’, Mendoza
Argentinian rosé once had a reputation for being sweet and heavy, but modern styles have moved on. This example from the high-altitude Tupungato Valley is bright and expressive, with aromas of ripe summer fruit and a palate that is both vivid and smooth.
It shows how well Malbec can work in rosé form when handled with restraint.
Style: dry, vibrant, rounded
Best with: grilled seafood or 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
A simple note on rosé
Rosé is at its best when it is refreshing, balanced and unpretentious. The best rosé wines are easy to drink, sit comfortably alongside food and do not demand too much attention.
These wines show that the best rosé wines do not have to come from Provence or conform to a single pale style. Chosen well, rosé can be reliable, characterful and genuinely enjoyable.
These wines sit alongside a wide range of styles, from pale Provençal rosé to deeper, more structured examples, all of which can be found in the Wickhams rosé selection
This list will evolve as wines and vintages change, but the approach remains the same. Choose rosé because it tastes good, not because it happens to be fashionable.
FAQs
Is Provence the best place for rosé?
Provence makes a lot of good rosé and has done a great deal for the category, but it is not the only place producing quality wines. Some of the most interesting rosés come from elsewhere, often with more structure and a clearer food focus.
Should rosé always be very pale?
No. Colour is largely a stylistic choice and not a reliable indicator of quality. Deeper-coloured rosé can be just as fresh and often works better with food.
Is rosé best drunk young?
Most rosé is made to be drunk within a year or two of release, but some fuller styles, particularly from places like Tavel, can develop well over a little more time.
Can rosé be drunk year-round?
Yes. Good rosé is not seasonal in the way it is often treated. Dry, balanced styles work just as well outside summer, especially with food.
