The sun is (finally) out, but in typical British fashion, it might not last. So, make the most of those long summer evenings, grab the picnic basket, head to the park or have your loved ones around for a barbecue, we’ve got the perfect rosé wine for you!

First things first, let’s start by busting a few myths about those delightful pink wines.

How is rosé made?

Contrary to popular belief, most still rosé wine isn’t made from mixing red and white wine (don’t try this at home, we wouldn’t recommend it 😉 ). There are two main methods: Saignée (French for ‘bleed’) and Maceration. With the saignée method, juice is drained from a vat where red wine is being fermented on its skins. In other words, rosés made by saignée are made like red wines but macerated on grape skins for a shorter period of time. Such rosés are pale pink rather than red and tend to be fuller bodied than other rosés. The second method is by maceration, which involves fermenting red grapes on their skins for a short period before removing the skins and draining the juice. This method is most commonly used in Southern Europe and produces wines that are lighter and much paler in colour.

Is rosé wine sweet?

Like any wine, rosé can be dry or sweet. Contrary to popular belief, a darker rosé doesn’t necessarily equate to a sweeter rosé (don’t judge a book by its colour on this one) . Historically, rosé wine has become drier over time so most rosés you will find in the UK are either dry or off dry.

How do you serve rosé?

In a glass and chilled! And preferably with nice people 😉 The ideal serving temperature for rosé is between 7-13˚C, depending on your preference. If the weather is really hot (unlikely over here!), you can even drink it with ice which the French call ‘rosé piscine’.  

What does rosé wine pair with?

It very much depends on the wine, but most of them are made in a style that goes well with anything summery. Think holidays in the south of France or aperitivo in Italy, rosé is great with light starters, salads, barbecues or even pizza. Because they tend to be lighter in alcohol than reds, they are also great on their own , well chilled and in good company of course!

Is rosé wine better saved for a girls’ night out?

How very dare you! Ever heard of ‘Brosé’? A portmanteau of ‘Bros’ and ‘rosé’, the term is used to describe a rosé favoured by men. But we don’t like stereotypes here at Vinohero HQ and we’re firm believers of rosés being for everyone or any occasion.

Here are some of our recommendations!

Belles du Sud Rosé

One of our most popular wines on Vinohero, this refreshingly light and very pale rosé hails from the Languedoc region. Made from a blend of Cinsault and Grenache gris, epitomising the southern French Rosé style, its crowd-pleasing elegance is perfect for summer socialising and livening up modern cuisine. Great as an aperitif, with a BBQ and light starters.

James Martin Rosé

The formidable James Martin transports us to a summer day in the south of France with this beautifully pale pink rosé. With fresh and fruity aromas, it is elegant and well balanced with a long finish. Produced near Narbonne in the beautiful Languedoc region, it is a blend of Cinsault and Grenache Gris. This wine is a real delight with your summer meals, barbecues and all types of salads.

Vinalba Malbec Rosé

We’ve gone all the way to Argentina to source this little gem! A rosé made from Malbec by the legend that is Hervé Fabre (or Monsieur Malbec as we like to call him)  at Viñalba, it is very elegant, crisp and refreshing with notes of pink grapefruit and lime. Enjoy the perfect balance of fruit and acidity of this rosé with salads, grilled meat, pasta and spicy food.

Amicale Pinot Grigio Rosé

Produced in the foothills of the Veneto in Italy, this Rosé Pinot Grigio from Amicale is another lovely rosé from southern Europe. Pale pink in colour with notes of citrus, white flowers, it is smooth and refreshing, and it is the ideal accompaniment to the rich produce that Italy is famed for. Excellent with light starters, white meat and fish.