This informative article goes about rosé wine, with its countless shades and styles. Rosé has long been underestimated anyway. I, myself simply did not drink it that often, the ‘simplest’ rosés I have tasted or what I was offered when at a party was not all that much to go on, so I simply did not develop an appetite towards it. Sort to speak. Rosé is often dismissed as mere simple or only suitable for summer sipping when having a barbeque or friends over. Did you know that rosé offers an exhilarating and captivating range of flavours, complexities, and pairings? So, as a true wine lover, I needed to sort this out for myself and I have delved deep into the world of rosé, exploring the different vinification techniques, diverse styles, renowned regions, and iconic appellations. Join me on a journey to discover the allure of rosé wine.
Exploring Rosé and its different Styles
From Light and Crisp to Bold and Complex
Contrary to trendy belief, rosé is not a one-dimensional wine at all. It can be as light as a feather and so refreshing. Boasting vibrant notes of strawberry and watermelon, candied apple or they can be bold and complex, with layers of red fruit, spice, and minerality. Whether you prefer a bone-dry Provencal rosé or a richer, more textured rosé from Tavel (mjum), there is a style to tantalize every taste bud. And let us not forget sparkling rosé, with its effervescent bubbles adding an extra layer of elegance to any occasion. Ever tried a Rosé Champagne or the latest newcomer, Prosecco Rosé.
Styles of rosé wine vary from bone dry, typically from the old word, notably Provence and the Rhône valley, to those with considerable residual sugar, like Rosé d’Anjou (Loire) and California’s blush grenache and zinfandel. These latter may more logically be regarded as medium dry or even medium sweet in style.
Did you know that Provence rosés are either pale pink or salmon in colour?The colour of the wine depends on a range of factors:
- Grape varieties
- Ripeness of the vintage
- Temperature of the grapes at harvest
- Rosé Winemaking methods
- Length of maceration
- Oxygen exposure
- Even soil type
Little facts about rosé and its colour
- Syrah and Mourvèdre produce pink wines - while Tibouren, produces a rosé with a salmon colour.
- Even the wine acidity has an influence on the colour: The higher the acidity, rosés are pinker… the lower, the acidity rosés are more salmon in colour.
- Warm grapes bleed more colour into the juice during vinification (temperature at harvest time)
- Direct press creates delicate, pale coloured rosés.
- Saignée method gives deeper coloured rosés.
- Longer maceration time extracts more colour.
- Oxygen exposure gives a rosé more of an orange colour.
The Terroir Effect on Rosé Expression
Just like with red and white wines, terroir also plays a crucial role in shaping the character of rosé. From those magnificent sun-kissed vineyards of Provence to the maritime-influenced slopes of coastal California, each wine region imparts its own unique flavours and aromas to the grapes. Whether it is the minerality of Provencal limestone soils or the bright acidity of high-altitude vineyards in Spain's Rioja region, terroir adds depth and complexity to rosé wines, reflecting the land from which they hail. To give a sturdy example, volcanic soils in France specifically found around the Massif de L’Esterel between Fréjus and Cannes (Provence), gives the rosé an orange colour.
From Provence to the New World
While rosé is produced around the globe, certain regions have become synonymous with exceptional pink wines. Provence, with its picturesque vineyards and pale salmon-hued wines, is hailed as the benchmark for classic dry rosé. Other notable regions include Tavel in the Rhône Valley, known for its robust and age-worthy rosés, and California's Central Coast, where innovative winemakers are pushing the boundaries with experimental blends and techniques. We are not ‘just talking about’ California’s blush zinfandel or grenache, those overtly sweet wines, which must be to your liking or with added with some extra ice. From Italy's sunny shores to the cool-climate vineyards of New Zealand, rosé lovers can explore a world of flavours without ever leaving their glass.
When as Dutchies Do we Drink Pink Wine?
The consumption of rosé often goes along with some consumption patterns and preferences, which depend per country. But in the Netherlands, we drink more white wine than red, and during the springtime and summer months we start thinking about rosé again. Where in Provence drinking rosé wine is the normative. So, when as Dutchies do we drink rosé wines the most?
- On celebratory occasions with friends and family, mostly during summer months from April till late September if the weather is still sunny.
- Great seasonality shown in sales throughout the year.
- With family barbeques and get togethers.
- Holiday boosts sales, e.g. Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, Pentecost.
- When going on a picnic to the park or the beach.
- Mostly drunk/sold with screwcap because it allows easier access to the wine.
A Taste of Iconic Rosé Appellations
No talk of rosé would be complete without mentioning some of the most iconic appellations known for their pink wines. In France, as mentioned earlier, Provence and Tavel stand out, along with Bandol, home to bold and structured rosés made primarily from Mourvèdre. In Spain, the vibrant rosados of Navarra and the Cava of Catalonia offer a taste of the country's rich winemaking heritage. In the New World, regions like Oregon's Willamette Valley and South Africa's Western Cape are gaining recognition for their distinctive rosé expressions, displaying both tradition and innovation in winemaking. I have tasted some of them and put them down below, for you to have some sort of reference on what to expect from these Iconic wines, unfortunately wines from Oregon are hard to come by in the Netherlands.
Blushing Pink Beauties
Côtes de Provence AOC
91/100UP - Ultimate Provence Rosé - 2021 - 13% [Blend of 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Cinsault, 30% Syrah and 10% Rolle]
My Tasting Note: Beautiful pale pinkish colour, even the bottle is already a love at first sight. A wine made by the famous Chateau de Berne. It as an incredibly attractive nose with such intense fruit coming your way, raspberry, strawberry, hint of white pepper and slight minerality giving the wine its beautiful depth. Giving the wine a beautiful length that you want to have another glass. Drink it now, too bad to let it go to waist.
Coteaux d’Aix en Provence AOC
88/100La Chapelle Du Seuil en Provence - 2020 - 13% [Blend of Syrah, Grenache, Rolle, Cinsault]
My Tasting Note: Pale pink colour, with lovely crisp acidity, flavours of rose petals, strawberries, grapefruit with some spiciness kicking in at the end but still the wine is kept delicate and not overpowering at all. It is a friendly rosé, not too complex and overpowering, ‘just right’ when you want to drink something lovely as an aperitif for instance.
Deep Pink Perfection
Tavel AOC (Rhône)
93/100Domaine de la Mordorée - “La Dame Rousse” - 2022 - 14.5% [Blend of Grenache Noir, Bourboulenc, Clairette, Cinsault, Syrah]
My Tasting Note: My goodness, I did not know what hit me at first, most definitely a wine that deserves some attention. It shows such complexity on the palate alone, floral notes, raspberry, pomegranate, forest fruit, strawberry, even a hint of some mint. It is so alive, with crisp acidity, and such beautiful texture. That concentration of flavours that keeps on coming, giving this wine an extraordinary length. Most definitely a wine that you can keep and store in your wine fridge for some time, but why should you?! Go ahead and taste it is amazing, it will not be disappointing.
Collioure AOC (Roussillon)
93/100Domaine de La Rectorie La Goudie - 2021 - 14.5% [Grenache Noir]
My Tasting Note: Such a power this magnificent pink perfection in a glass, a region not so known to most. This is a rosé that has seen some oak ageing on barriques for seven months, ageing on its lees, to give this wine more depth and structure. It shows a deep pink colour with ripe red fruit everywhere, plum, cranberries, red cherries, strawberries with wild herbs like rosemary and thyme. It has great acidity backing all that up, with beautiful creamy texture. In the finish you can detect a hint of minerality, making this wine too good to be true.
Bandol AOC (Provence)
91/100Chateau de Pibarnon - 2021 - 13.5% [Blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, made by Direct Pressing]
My Tasting Note: This wine has it all, dark orange-pink colour, with a bouquet of seductive aromas and flavours, from grapefruit notes, forest fruit, blackberries, and strawberries some subtle hints of thyme. There is such a balance between its generous structure and its elegance at the same time. Every sip is ever so seductive as it is exciting.
In conclusion, rosé wine is far more than just a summertime quaff. It is a versatile and complex beverage that deserves to be celebrated year-round. Maybe go out of your comfort zone and drink a complex darker rosé in wintertime, I will promise you it will not disappoint. Whether you prefer a crisp and refreshing rosé or a bold and expressive pink wine, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So, raise a glass to the beauty of rosé and savour the endless possibilities it brings to the world of wine. Cheers!
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What determines the colour of rosé wine?
Everything from grape to cellar. Syrah and Mourvèdre give pink wines while Tibouren leans salmon, warm grapes bleed more colour, direct pressing keeps a rosé pale while saignée and longer maceration deepen it, and oxygen exposure pushes it toward orange. Even acidity plays along: the higher the acidity, the pinker the wine.
Is rosé only a summer wine?
No. Structured, age worthy rosés from Tavel and Bandol drink beautifully year round and even reward some time in the cellar. A complex, darker rosé in wintertime is an underrated pleasure.
Which regions make the best rosé?
Provence is the benchmark for pale, bone dry rosé, with Tavel in the Rhône and Bandol adding robust, structured styles. Beyond France, look at Navarra in Spain, California's Central Coast, Oregon's Willamette Valley and South Africa's Western Cape.
What is the difference between direct press and saignée rosé?
Direct pressing presses the juice off the skins right away and gives delicate, pale rosés. The saignée method bleeds juice off after a short maceration, producing deeper coloured, more structured pink wines.
When do the Dutch drink rosé?
Mostly from April to late September: at celebrations, barbecues and picnics, with clear sales spikes around holidays like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Easter and Pentecost. Screwcaps dominate because they open easily wherever the bottle travels.
Resources
- Wine & Spirit Education Trust, “Vines & Vinification,” - By Sally Easton MW, published 2017
- Wine Scholar Guild, “French Wine Scholar,” - by Lisa M. Airey, CWE, FWS, & Nancy Reynolds, DipWSET, FWS, Edition 7.1 - published 2021
- Brandsmen - “Rose Wine Statistics,” July 29, 2023 - accessed January 2024
- The Drinks Business - “Why Rosé wine is ideal for innovation,” 08 April 2019 - accessed January 2024
Margot van Lieshout
Wine marketeer, sales expert with over 20 years in the trade, public speaker and international wine judge. Thousands of wines scored from Steiermark to Ningxia, and a trade she knows from the inside out. Wine with Margot is where she helps wine brands tell the stories that sell them.
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