With a fine fragrance, fruity freshness, and a stream of tiny bubbles that run the gamut from beigey-pink to deep salmon, sparkling rosé radiates charm and personality.
Part of the appeal is that pink fizz is predominantly made from red grapes such as pinot noir, and it doesn’t really taste like traditional rosé – in fact, its personality can be much more vinous (winey) than the colour suggests.
And therein lies the beauty. The palest peach can be powerful on the palate, while a medium deep-onion skin can be delicate and restrained.
Here are six that caught our eye and taste buds.
1. Langlois Chateau Cremant De Loire Rosé Sparkling Wine, France (£14, thechampagnecompany.com)
Langlois is part of the Bollinger empire, and it’s worth looking beyond the heart of Champagne to other sparkling French wine regions, where Cremant offers a stylish and sophisticated alternative. A delicate petal pink, with a rich, red fruit nose, this one is full and open with good structure and a delicious medley of raspberries, vanilla and spice.
2. Louvel Fontaine Rosé Champagne Brut, France (£20, Asda)
A playful choice with lots of fruity freshness, this copper-pink has a lovely wild strawberry, pinot nose, with gentle, creamy notes beneath the red cherry fruit and well-balanced acidity on the finish. A seductive mix of colour and flavour.
3. Bottega Pinot Noir Sparkling Brut Rosé, Italy (£24.99, also available in gift pack with 2 flutes for £36.99, Selfridges)
Looking for some ‘wow’ factor? Fashion-conscious tipplers will be impressed with the rose gold sleeve, and this stylish Italian has enough pulling power to set the mood for some flirtatious fun. A shimmering baby pink with bronze highlights, delicate aromas of red berries lead to a vibrant palate of succulent, fresh fruit that’s flavoursome but not heavy.
4. Daylesford Organic Léoube Sparkling Rosé, Cotes de Provence, France (£30, Ocado)
Just as exquisite as their still, dry rosé wines, this pale beauty deserves a dalliance. Brought to us by the artisans behind Daylesford Organic, it’s fresh and pure with a good degree of minerality to the cabernet franc, that suggests hints of citrus fruits and undergrowth, rather than berries. A real find, the faintest barely-there tint in the glass mirrors the savoury, subtle flavours.
5. Ayala Rosé Majeur NV, France (£32.50, champagnedirect.co.uk)
A sumptuous salmon pink, this is a gourmet-style of rosé that’s flowing with strawberries and raspberries, entwined with tangy citrus fruit, a silky, creamy texture and fresh acidity. Generous with good intensity, it hits all the right notes, with the perfect balance of elegance and freshness to boost your happiness.
6. Taste the Difference Crémant de Loire Rosé, France (£11.50, Sainsbury’s)
Seriously delicious and stylish, this is a fantastic pink fizz from Saumur in the beautiful Loire Valley. Made in the same way as champagne but from cabernet franc grapes, it has plenty of oomph with lovely floral, fruity aromas and redcurrant notes. A very pretty pale pink, it has a peachy, creamy, red-fruited character with a fresh, elegant finish.
