The Best Rosé Wines to Drink in the Summer of 2026
Foley Johnson, Chateau D’Esclans, Domaine Roy & Fils
Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, rosé was considered a simple, lightweight summer sipper. Much has changed in the past few years among both winemakers and wine lovers, and warm-weather-only pink wine has been elevated to a year-round category made with much more intention and care than it had been in the past. Rosé is truly the best of both worlds: Made from red grapes, it has the structure and complexity that we expect from darker-hued wines, but when properly chilled, it can be equally gorgeous and refreshing as the finest white.
In the past several years, enologists in both Old and New World regions have taken to aging their rosé partially or fully in wood or amphora to add depth and texture, bumping rosé up to the level of a gastronomic wine that is at home on the finest tables, whether at a Michelin-starred restaurant or your own home. From the pale shade of a ballet slipper to deep sunset pink and every stage in between, these seven rosés are perfect for summer sipping.
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Foley Johnson 2025 Handmade Rosé Rutherford Napa Valley California
Image Credit: Foley Johnson With the 2012 launch of Foley Johnson on Route 29 in the heart of Napa Valley, Bill Foley and his wife, Carol Johnson Foley, fulfilled their dream of opening a Napa winery with their names on it. Vineyards and winemaking utilize sustainable practices, including protecting the adjacent Napa River, naturally managing pests by installing bird and owl boxes among the vines, maintaining healthy soil, and conserving water. Their 50-acre estate in the center of Rutherford is home to Bordeaux varieties, including the Malbec used to make this sophisticated rosé, which proffers a nose of raspberry, clementine, and freesia. Bright at first sip, it is medium-bodied and has flavors of cranberry, raspberry, and candied orange peel.
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DeLille Cellars 2025 Rosé Columbia Valley Washington
Image Credit: DeLille Cellars An early influence in establishing Washington State as one of the country’s most well-known winegrowing regions, DeLille Cellars is a widely regarded producer of Bordeaux- and Rhône-style blends. Made with 46 percent Mourvèdre, 41 percent Grenache, and 13 percent Cinsault, this pale pink bottling is sourced from three prime vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA and is made under the direction of winemakers Jason Gorski and Nick Bernstein. With a nose of ripe summer peach, raspberry, and jasmine, this wine has a nice balance of fruit and savory flavors, including strawberry, red plum, sage, and thyme. Somewhat full on the palate for a rosé, it offers a satisfying, high-acid finish.
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Wolffer 2024 Summer In A Bottle Rosé Long Island New York
Image Credit: Wolffer Estate Offered in magnum to keep the party going, this wine from one of Long Island’s pioneering wineries is as gorgeous as the bottle it comes in. Founded in 1988 by Christian Wölfer, who turned Hamptons potato fields into one of the East Coast’s premier wine destinations, the estate is now under the direction of his adult children Joey and Marc, with winemaking under the direction of Roman Roth. Aromas of raspberry and orange blossom prepare the palate for delicate flavors of cherry, nectarine, rose petal, and a soft hint of baking spice.
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Donnafugata 2025 Dolce & Gabbana Rosé Sicily Italy
Image Credit: Donnafugata Now several vintages in, this collaboration between the renowned Italian fashion duo and Sicilian wine powerhouse Donnafugata continues to turn out one of the island’s best rosés season after season. Made with native Sicilian varieties Nerello Mascalese and Nocera from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna in the eastern part of the island and Contessa Entellina estate in the west near Palermo, it has fragrances of red plum, rosewater, and river rocks. Surprisingly full-textured, it has flavors of pomegranate, Santa Rosa plum, and jasmine with a persistent saline note.
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Billecart-Salmon NV Le Rosé Champagne France
Image Credit: Champagne Billecart-Salmon Pink Champagne is one of our favorite styles of rosé, and it’s always a great way to get the party started. Champagne Billecart Salmon was founded in 1818 by newlyweds Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon alongside Elisabeth’s brother Louis, who was their first winemaker and cellar master. More than 200 years on, the house is run by seventh-generation scion Mathieu Roland-Billecart and family members Antoine, Jean, and François. With a steady stream of tiny bubbles, aromas of strawberry, marzipan, and honeysuckle set the scene for brilliant effervescence and peach, pomegranate, and lavender flavors with a closing note of brioche.
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Domaine Roy & Fils 2025 Willamette Valley Rosé Willamette Valley Oregon
Image Credit: Domaine Roy & Fils Founded by Marc-André Roy and Jared Etzel in 2012, Domaine Roy & Fils is known for its elegant interpretations of Burgundy-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so this complex but somewhat lighthearted rosé comes as a pleasant surprise. Known for its commitment to organic farming, the house was acquired by Marchese Frescobaldi in 2023. Made with 100 percent Pinot Noir, this wine offers a bouquet of strawberry, tangerine, and honeysuckle. It has a soft, yet full texture and flavor of nectarine and ripe summer cherry with a soft saline note and vivid acidity that linger on the palate.
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Chateau d’Esclans 2023 Garrus Rosé Cotes de Provence France
Image Credit: Chateau D’Esclans Winemaker Sasha Lichine’s goal when he acquired this historic estate in 2006 was to make the finest rosé in the world. Beyond achieving that goal, he also helped launch the “Rosé Renaissance” that spurred producers to up their game, leading to the availability today of excellent rosé from all corners of the globe. Made with Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino), and Syrah, this bottling has aromas of peach, pomegranate, and mountainside herbs. Beautifully structured, it offers flavors of mandarin orange, apricot, and chamomile that drift into a brilliant finish.
