The 9 Best Rosé Wines in the World to Drink This Summer in 2024
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We all have those friends that just won’t drink rosé because it’s not red nor white, so they don’t think it’s a real wine, but let’s face it: Rosé is here to stay. There are all types of social media activations, like Les Nuits en Rosé and Rosé All Day and in N.Y.C. there’s even a sunset boat ride dedicated to these enticing dusk-colored wines. So many people are drinking rosé right now that it has become one of the most popular wine choices as the weather heats up and we’re not ashamed to say that when we need to cool down, rosé is one of our go-to choices. When chilled properly it can be refreshing and even restorative, but since it’s produced from red wine grapes it can have more structure and complexity than white wine.
Sure, a lot of rosé wines can be what our English friends call “cheap and cheery,” but take it from us there are a plethora of very well-made rosé wines that have entered the luxury category. Many of the better ones are aged in wood barrels for additional flavor, complexity, and structure.
There are four ways to make rosé wine from red grapes. They include direct press, saignée, vin gris, and even blending white wine and red wine. Will dig deeper into each of these methods in the FAQ section down below, but without further ado, here are nine rosés you’ll want to be drinking this summer.
Best Rosé Wines From Around the World
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Best Overall Rosé: Chateau d’Esclans 2021 Garrus Rosé Cotes de Provence Provence France
Sacha Lichine acquired Chateau d’Esclans in Provence in 2006. The estate is situated just north of St. Tropez and many people may know the chateau as the original home of Whispering Angel rosé wine. While Whispering Angel is a perfectly fine entry offering, Sacha’s Garrus Rosé makes the former pale in comparison. If it weren’t for the pink color, Garrus 2021 could fool you into thinking you’re drinking a fine white Burgundy. It has aromas of white peach, apricot puree, and caramelized pineapple and flavors of pear, apple, candied orange peel, and luscious crème brulée with a bright acid finish.
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Best Cotes de Provence Rosé: Chateau Gassier 2021 946 Cotes de Provence Rosé Provence France
The number 946 refers to the height (in meters) of the Sainte Victoire Mountain that overlooks the vineyards in which the grapes for this amazing wine are grown. This rosé is a favorite of sommelier and beverage directors in the south of France, and it can often be found on wine lists at fine restaurants in Paris. It is pale pink with aromas of grapefruit pith, dried coconut, and red raspberry. Well-structured with balanced acidity, this delightful wine has flavors of red plum, white peach, and a touch of vanilla in the finish.
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Best Bandol Rosé: Domaines Ott 2022 Chateau Romassan Bandol Rosé Bandol Provence France
Marcel Ott left Alsace in 1896 and purchased an estate in Provence that was well-priced because phylloxera had previously devastated the vines. He immediately began replanting and making fine wines and more than century later his legacy is carried on by Jean-Francois Ott who continues his family’s tradition to make some of Bandol’s best known and most respected wines. Brilliant pink colored in the glass, this delightful wine has aromas of freesia, apple blossom, and grapefruit. It is medium bodied, silky, and complex in the mouth with flavors of cranberry, Fuji apple, and tangerine.
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Best Burgundian Rosé: Domaine Charles Audoin 2021 Marsannay Cote de Nuits Burgundy France
The idea of a rosé from Burgundy goes against the grain of what so many Burgundy lovers believe—that wines from the region should be only white or red and never pink. However, Marsannay is the exception to the rule; appellation village rosé is allowed to be made here. Charles Audoin and his son Cyril represent the fourth and fifth generations of Burgundians who successfully continue to create delicious rosé wines. Their 2021 Marsannay rosé is pale pink in color with aromas of red raspberry, lemon zest, and freesia. It is medium bodied with pronounced minerality and zesty acidity supporting flavors of rose water, red plum, and strawberry.
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Best German Rosé: Meyer-Näkel 2021 Pinot Noir Rosé Ahr Germany
Werner Näkel is well known for its wines produced in South Africa, as well as those produced from steep sloping vineyards in Germany. Now in the fourth generation, the winery is run by two sisters who in addition to this rosé also make excellent red wines from Pinot Noir. It is pale pink with aromas of honeysuckle, rose water, and red raspberry. Lively acidity in the mid palate reveals flavors of red plum, strawberry, and rose hips tea. There is excellent minerality and a lingering note of chalk in the finish.
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Best Spanish Rosé: Bodegas Muga 2022 Flor de Muga Rosé Rioja Spain
The Muga family started their family winery in 1932 and in 1968 they moved to their current location in at the old train station in Haro. The family understands wine tourism as well as making fine wines and visitors to the winery can sign up for a Segway tour or float above the vineyards in a hot air balloon while enjoying a glass of this delightful rosé. It is made from Garnacha, which tends to impart a much darker color, but the winemakers here know how to tame Spanish grapes. Pale pink in the glass, it invites you in with aromas of lemon zest, pink grapefruit, and freshly picked cherries. Nicely balanced in the mid palate, it has flavors of peach, apricot, and red raspberry.
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Best Portuguese Rosé: Azores Wine Company 2022 Vulcanico Rosé Azores Portugal
This Portuguese rosé comes from one of the volcanic Azore Islands located in the center of the Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago was first colonized in the 1400s and today it is home to fewer than 250,000 people. In 2014, winemaker Antonio Macanita co-founded Azores Wine Company in Pico, just a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. He makes many quality wines using indigenous grapes, but his rosé is one of our favorites. It is medium pink with aromas of freshly picked strawberry, red raspberry, and Valencia orange. There’s a marked sensation of salinity on first sip with additional flavors of red cassis and freshly ground black pepper.
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Best Carneros Rosé: Robert Sinskey 2022 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir Carneros California
Robert Sinskey Winery was one of the pioneers of regenerative and sustainable farming long before it became fashionable. Their vineyards have been farmed with organic and biodynamic principles since 1991, and today carry the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) certification. Winemaker Jeff Virnig has been there for decades and continues to make excellent wines. We both agree that his vin gris is one of the best that either of us has ever tasted. It is pale salmon pink and has aromas of mango, white peach, and candied orange peel. It has balanced acidity and flavors of strawberry, crushed rose petals, and dried lavender.
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Best Sonoma Rosé: Flowers 2022 Sonoma Coast Rose Sonoma County California
Walt and Joan Flowers started growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Sonoma Coast over 25 years ago and their highest vineyards are perched on mountain ridges that rise to elevations ranging from 1,100 feet to just under 1,900 feet. Less than two miles from the Pacific Ocean, their vineyards are cooled by nighttime breezes. Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé is salmon pink colored with aromas of citrus zest, red raspberry, and jasmine that lead to flavors of strawberry, rose hip tea, and red plum. There’s great acidity and minerality in the mid palate and a touch of salinity in the finish.
Authors
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Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
