Best rose wine in the UK
Rose wine in the UK has moved decisively upmarket over the last decade. The sweet, lurid pink wines of the past have largely been replaced by dry, serious roses that work as well with food as they do in the garden. Here is where the value is right now.
Provence rose
Provence is the benchmark for dry rose in the UK. The pale, salmon-coloured wines from Cotes de Provence and Bandol are consistently elegant, food-friendly, and widely available. At 15 to 25 pounds they represent good value. Whispering Angel is the most recognised brand -- it is good but overpriced relative to less famous producers from the same region.
Southern Rhone and Languedoc rose
The Rhone Valley and Languedoc produce roses with more body and character than most Provence wines at a lower price point. A Tavel -- the only appellation in France dedicated entirely to rose -- is notably more serious and food-friendly than most. At 12 to 18 pounds, these wines outperform most Provence roses at the same price.
English rose
English still rose is less well known but increasingly good. Producers in Sussex and Kent are making dry, pale roses from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier that have real character. Expect to pay 15 to 22 pounds. Worth trying if you have not.
At a restaurant looking for a rose? Upload the wine list to Pour with your dish and it will find the right bottle for the food.
At a restaurant looking for a rose? Upload the wine list and Pour will find the right bottle for your food.
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