Look, it’s no secret that I am very here for rosé, like 24/Life here for it. I love to bask in its blush, millennial pink hue. To pose seductively against it’s gentle coral complexion. Its never ending ability to perfectly quench thirst amid the peak of any hot, cold or slightly shitty day is the work of gods. But can you choose a wrong rosé? Yes, friends, yes you can.
Luckily, Jono Jenkins, Ex French Rugby Player come Wine Importer, is here to show us the ropes when it comes to choosing your pink plonk.
CHOOSE FRENCH FIRST
There are many things to love about the French; their cheese, the shopping, their capacity to be impeccably polite and startlingly dismissive at the same time. But nothing quite stands out as much as their ability to produce dry, pale and crisp Rosé.
“France leads the way in Rosé production, both in quality and quantity, with Spain just behind them producing ‘rosado’. So naturally, just like anything done with great repetition, you’re bound to become pretty darn good at it and Rosé is something the French are rather fond of. If you’re just getting your palate primed for Rosé it’s hard to go wrong with French, particularly from the South of France.”
KEEP IT SIMPLE & REFRESHING
“French Rosé wines, like the French themselves, are known for not being over complicated. They take simple things and make them great. The mark of a good French Rosé is its ability to be dry and refresh. Usually light, crisp, pale and only mildly aromatic, it’s a wine that moves perfectly from afternoon to night. French Rosés typically present subtle summer fruits like raspberry, melon and peach and work well with seafoods, salads and light meats.”
GO PALE OR GO HOME
It’s hard to go wrong with anything from the South of France where the regions are known for producing those ‘salmon coloured or pale pink’ wines which are usually dry, subtle and refreshing.
“The paler Rosés are easy drinking, sessionable wines and it’s important to note that Rosé wines are not produced to age, you’ll rarely find a bottle that’s more than two years old and if you do, caution to you. Also remember that France is always behind a year in Vintage.
So, while colour is not always indicative of quality, sometimes it’s better to hedge your bets and go straight for pale. This way you won’t be disappointed.
MAKE IT SESSIONABLE
Without waxing lyrical and obnoxious about the beauty of the French way of life and all their sense of luxury and poise, drinking wine truly is a part of their DNA. It’s something that’s enjoyed, appreciated and studied rather than guzzled and gulped before going out, says Jono.
“Rosé is a way of life and the French are all about drinking it as an experience rather than an activity. But hey, we also get that sometimes you just can’t help yourself. Sometimes it’s hard not to polish off a whole bottle of French Rosé in one sitting. At Rosé Imports we’ve been known to do that more times than a few. I’d say that’s actually a sign of a pretty good drop.”
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