Let’s face it: France really does knock it out of the park with fabulous rosé wines, especially down South where they are pale and pretty. Rosé wine also seems to be the category where producers can have most fun with the bottles. From Provence to the Languedoc via Beaujolais, here are some that look as good as they taste and taste as good as they look...
Domaine Ott, Clos Mireille (Provence)
Domaine Ott are the godfathers of Provence rosé, ever since Marcel Ott founded the winery on the shores of the Mediterranean in 1896. This is where it all started; the quintessential, Provençal style of pink and the iconic bottle shapes. Domaine Ott have 3 properties in Provence, each harnessing the style of that particular terroir: Château de Selle near Draguignan, Château Romassan in Bandol and Clos Mirelle overlooking the sea at La Londe Les Maures. The Clos Mirelle is Grenache dominated with a splash of Cinsault and Syrah. It is very pale pink, with subtle notes of ripe melon and peach, a citrusy freshness and a cool, saline core thanks to the proximity of the vines to the sea.
Find Domaine Ott, Clos Mireille, Côtes de Provence 2018/2019 for £33 - £39.95 from Hennings, Soho Wine Company or Amazon by the case.
Ultimate Provence (Provence)
Making a splash on the rosé scene thanks to its combination of a classic, Provençal pink wine profile and a stunning glass bottle that will be reused for water, olive oil and many other things over its lifetime, this is an easy-to-recognise wine from a producer with a funky, urban-style hotel, half an hour away from St-Tropez. Cool, dry and elegant with stone fruit notes.
Find Ultimate Provence rosé for £19.99 - £22 from The Drink Shop and Dulwich Vintners.
Château de Berne CDP (Provence)
We love Chateau Berne, not just for its funky square bottle and epic wine tourism offerings but because the wine is absolutely delicious. This iteration of it (it has many versions) showcases everything we love about Provençal pink with its weighty, saline texture and subtle complexity, but seems to have just a splash more peachy fruit than most.
Find Château de Berne Côtes de Provence 2019 for £15.99 / £11.99 mix 6 price at Majestic
Jardin des Roses, (Languedoc)
Newsflash! This wine is not from Provence, but from the Languedoc region further west. Made in a similar style to the famous Provençal wines with a similar blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, there’s a touch more ripe strawberry fruit and a distinctive, floral aroma that really does make you think of a bed of roses. It has a gorgeous bottle too and you can collect all six labels, each showcasing a different rose.
Find Jardin des Roses, AOP Languedoc, France, £13.49 Waitrosecellar
Chêne Bleu Le Rosé (Vaucluse)
Located on the borders of Provence and the Rhone Valley, the wines from Chêne Bleu straddle both styles and offer something unique of their own. Syrah and Grenache dominant, this pink is pale and sophisticated with savoury red fruit notes of redcurrant and wild strawberry. It’s a foodie pink that would be great with grilled meats from a barbecue. Beautifully packed, don’t even get me started on the place itself. If you visit , you will never want to leave...
Find Chêne Bleu, IGP Vaucluse Le Rosé for £25 from Wine & Greene and in magnum for £56.50 from Hedonism Wines
Paradis secret, Foncalieu, (Languedoc)
Another Languedoc pink, Paradis Secret is now one of the signature wines of Vignobles Foncalieu in the Languedoc. Dangerously easy-to-drink, with notes of nectarine, peach and even lime leaf, it's a modern style of southern French pink with an equally modern and elegant, frosted bottle.
Find Paradis Secret by Foncalieu for £10.99 at Majestic
Premier Bain, Beaujolais, 2019 (Beaujolais)
Rosé wine from Beaujolais is going to be a big thing this summer thanks to its slightly lighter style. This one is cool and crisp with vibrant notes of raspberry summer pudding thanks to the Gamay grape from which this wine is made. At 13%, it’s a touch lighter on the alcohol too - something that many are looking for at the moment. Dive in!
Find Premier Bain Rosé, Beaujolais for £10.49 from Laithwaites
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