Rosé wine has a long history in the world of wine although for a long time was considered inferior to white and red wines. But today, thanks to the ‘Rosé Movement’, Rosé has never been more popular and there is now something for everyone: from bone dry to sweet, and still to sparkling.
What kind of wine is Rosé?
Rosé is not a variety but a style of winemaking - think of it as the combination of red and white wine. Made from red grape varieties, Rosés are made in the same way as a conventional white wine but with a short period on red grape skins (a process called maceration), usually no more than three days and sometimes as short as 6 hours.
What grapes are used to make Rosé?
Rosé does not discriminate, it is friends with all red wine grape varieties; including sangiovese, grenache, cinsault, pinot noir and syrah, and is also commonly made with a mix. The grape variety used in international Rosé is often a reflection of origin, such as Merlot in Bordeaux and Grenache in the Rhone Valley.
The most famous Rosé style is from Provence, a dry style made from a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache and other local grape varietals. Spanish Rosé wines, known as Rosado, are dry and made from local varieties Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Viura. Italy’s Rosato is a reflection of local varieties such as Sangiovese, Aglianico and Montepulciano.
In Australia, the grape varieties used often comes down to the winemaker’s creative flair.
Is Rosé sweet or dry?
The hues and dryness of Rosé vary from region to region and winemaker to winemaker. Ranging from sweet, off dry to bone dry - making it a perfect match for any cuisine from seafood and light salads to mild spiced curries. But generally these days most Rosés are on the dry side.
How long does Rosé wine last?
Sparkling Rosé, like any sparkling wine, will lose its signature fizz the moment it’s opened so best enjoyed within hours of opening. A still Rosé will generally last once opened in the fridge for up to a week, like most white wines.
Commercial off the shelf varieties are not made to age but drunk young and fresh, however will keep for a year in the right conditions.
Browse our selection of rosé wine sourced from the finest producers and brands from both here in Australia and from around the world.