There’s something about rosé that quickly transports us back to halcyon days when the weather is warmer, the days are longer and afternoons are whiled away with a cold glass of wine. Whether your summer setup is enjoyed onboard a luxury yacht or on the Athens Riviera or also even better on the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos, there’s no wine better suited to alfresco dining and awesome events.
There’s been a resurgence of rosé in recent summers with new generations discovering the joys of pink wine, we’ve even seen demand extend into frozé iced drinks and rosé ice pops. Millennials caused a rosé boom and the supermarkets have expanded their offerings as much as 15% to meet demand. As a result, we’re spoilt for choice and it’s hard to know what’s good.
One thing that needs to be cleared up is that paler isn’t always better. In fact, colour has no correlation with quality and the variation in colour comes from a number of contributing factors, the main one being the grape variety and the maceration process. If you were once stung by the vivid pink-hued rosé of the zinfandel boom, it’s time to stick your head above the parapet and experiment once again with more colourful rosés. There’s a whole world of flavours to discover in varied rosé wines and colour shouldn’t hold you back.
To that end, we’ve rounded up the best rosé wines to enjoy this summer…
Whispering Angel Rose is a blend of Grenache, Rolle, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes. Strikingly pale pink in color, the aromas are fresh and fruity. On the palate, it is bone dry through the finish. The name really suits the delicate nature of this wine. That was the must-have tipple at every summer party for the last two years.
Caves d’esclans identifies vineyards, grapes and wines from château d’esclans as well as local growers to make what has reputedly become the world’s greatest rose.
This is such an elegant rose that is more similar to a white Burgundy. Garrus wine is one of the most stylish, elegant roses the wine world has to offer.
From 8-year-old Grenache vines. Seems the palest and most orange of the 28s. Slightly more savoury and more obviously garrigue-influenced than Les Clans. Lovely creamy texture and a little bit of lemon cream on the finish. Reminds me of a white burgundy in some ways. Very persistent.
This is a very unusual top quality rose from the South of France. It is made from a blend of local grapes, and it is aged in oak barrels. It is a delicate salmon pink and has complex flavours of red berries and a savoury creaminess.
One of the 9 Muses, a true pleasure for the eyes with beautiful salmon color! A.muse is light, fruity, smooth, lively and elegant.
The soil is fertile, with mixed composition ranging from sandy loam to clay loam thus offering the possibility of producing wines of exquisite quality and rich aromas. The microclimate of the region is characterized by cold winters and warm summers, while a small river called Permisos contribute to the existence of a mild continental climate.
Light peachy colour. Explosive nose with hints of white flower, strawberry, peach and citrus fruit. The aromatic mouth with flavors of grapefruit and stone fruit gives a lovely character to this wine.
For Idylle d’Achinos, three equally divided varieties are entangled in a great romance, one that is beyond time. Agiorgitiko, Syrah and Grenache Noir in equal parts, are vinified with minimal extraction in order to give a wine with the main characteristic of finesse.
French, Greek, say it the way you want. You will hardly find so much concentrated in one glass!
The alcoholic fermentation and takes place in stainless refrigerated tanks at 17°C. The colour is vivid, bright rose with cherry highlights and scnets of cherry, strawberry and flowers. Oenanthe Rose the taste complements the aromas with a nice acid sensation and velvety tannins.
The food pairing is seafood dishes, fish and white meat.
Dianthus arboreus is the scientific name for the widely known carnation or according to mythology the “flower of Zeus”. Myth has it that Zeus was envious of the lily, the flower chosen by his spouse Hera, and decided to create a flower of his own, worthy or even better than hers. So one day he cast a bolt of thunder and through the lightning and the thick smoke grew DIANTHOS… an exceptional rose made with Xinomavro grapes!
From the Ioannis Vatista Winery, which has been taken over by his much-loved daughter Maria Vatista, he brings us close to his wines again with new varieties.
Three local varieties, Mandilaria, Thrapsa and Mavroudi gave us this rose-petal color, rich in abundant red fruit and wild flower aromas, balanced rose wine. Enjoy at 10-12°C, with pasta, cheese and light red sauces.
IRINON Dry Rose Wine by Protected Geographical Region Laconia.
