My parents have always been fond of Mateus (a sweet semi-sparkling Rosé from Portugal) so I grew up avoiding this section of the wine list, thinking sickly sweet was the only option for the pink drink (apologies to the Mateus lovers but it’s just not my style!). I’ve since discovered Rosé can be sweet or bone dry and that it’s a wonderful versatile style wine.
Rosé is best sipped chilled and arguably one of the easiest wines to pair with food as it works well with most dishes. A sparkling Rosé can be a lovely way to start the party or serve with dessert. Perfect for a hot Aussie summer's day, take it with you to a BBQ as it will suit cheese snacks, salads, chicken or prawn. It’s a great choice for antipasti starters or its fruitiness can tame the heat, so try it with a spicy main dish.
Like all wines there are many different flavours depending on the grape or how it was made. Rosé is made from red wine grapes, with minimal skin contact. Any red wine grape can be used; Pinot Noir, Grenache or Shiraz are most common in Australia. A winemaker can choose to go with single variety, or blend of multiple varieties, and sometimes they may even choose to co-ferment white wine grapes.
Rosé can be light with minerality or a darker hue is likely to have more complexity in flavour and be fruitier.
Below is a list of our top 5 Summer Rosés, plus 1 more option for those who are looking for a booze-free choice.
1. Shadowfax’s Minnow Rosé 2022
Shadowfax is one of Victoria's leading boutique wineries. Family-owned, it has a strong focus on regionality. Shadowfax’s Minnow Rosé 2022 grapes are all hand-grown, hand-picked, and hand-made from the Werribee estate vineyard.
This is a lovely complex rosé with a mix of flavours that combine together beautifully and generously fills the mouth. Blending Cinsault, Grenache, Mataro and Syrah, the wine tastes of strawberries and cream, with hints of orange marmalade and a dash of spice. Deep salmon in colour, Shadowfax has created a wonderful wine with texture and depth.
Fun fact: Shadowfax is named after the mighty “chief” horse in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, The Lord of the Rings.
Available direct at shadowfax.com.au/wines/ RRP $32
2. Lowe Wines Bio-Logical Organic & Preservative Free Rosé 2023
For the health conscious wine drinker, Lowe’s is preservative free (no added sulphur, i.e. preservatives), organic, biodynamic, vegan and it tastes delicious!
The Bio-Logical range takes a holistic approach to winemaking, focusing on soil health and sustainable viticulture practices, resulting in high-quality grapes for wine production. The Tinja farm in Mudgee has been organically certified since 2005 and regenerative agricultural actions continue across the entire farm, including the livestock and food gardens.
Mudgee is known for its dry summers and cool wet winters, making its macroclimate extremely well suited to red wines.
The rosé is made with Shiraz and Cabernet grapes, handpicked and whole bunch pressed with cultured yeast added, then left in the press for four hours to create the coral pink colour. This wine is incredible, the palate is ripe, round and supple. It’s also very easy drinking which is lucky as the rosé is best finished the day you open it as there are no preservatives to stop it from oxidising (resulting in a vinegar taste).
Available direct at lowefamilywineco.com.au/ RRP $45
3. STUDIO by Miraval
After tasting this delicious drop you can see why Brad and Angelina fought over the French wine estate. Château Miraval is a 500 hectare estate located in the heart of Provence. Surrounded by olive trees and lavender fields, with plots on the French Riviera, wine has been made on the estate for centuries. The salty soils strongly influence the taste of grapes, balanced by an irresistible mineral structure.
STUDIO is a delicate pink blush, the dry rosé is well-balanced with lots of minerality and delicious citrus notes. Blending Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle (also known as Vermentino), and the rare Provencal maritime grape, Tibouren.
The name "STUDIO" pays homage to the legendary recording studio on the Miraval estate, where Pink Floyd recorded hit album The Wall, and music artists such as Sade, Sting, Muse and AC/DC unleashed their creativity.
Available at danmurphys.com.au/ RRP $26.99 for 700ml, also available in a Magnum (1.5L) for $49.99
4. Lamborghini Metodo Classico Organic Rosé
Finally the luxurious Lamborghini wines are available for purchase in Australia!
Australians don’t typically associate Lamborghini with wine but actually the family of these stylish high-performance cars has been in the wine industry since the early 70’s. Back in 1974, when founder Ferruccio Lamborghini retired, he returned to his farming roots and dedicated his days to planting vines in Umbria, central Italy. The wine label is now looked after by his daughter Patrizia.
Beautifully packaged in an attention grabbing pink box and perfectly matched foil bottle top, this is a wine made to impress. The sparking Metodo Classico Organic Rosé is made in the traditional champagne method. Harvested by hand, the Pinot Noir grapes are delicate, fresh and fruity on the palate.
Bring it with you to a fancy dinner or yacht party.
Available direct at lamborghiniwine.com.au/ RRP $169
5. Three Miners Rocker Box Rosé
Central Otago is known for producing high-quality Pinot Noir and Three Miners Rocker Box Rosé, made with single varietal 100% Pinot Noir grapes is a prime example of excellence the region is famous for.
The vineyard was acquired in 2014 by plant scientist Kirstin Wright, who was looking for a lifestyle change and decided to switch her pathology skills to focus on grape vines. Three Miners recognises the area’s gold mining history with the bottle label artwork featuring the faces of the three miners who were the first custodians of the land that was to become the vineyard.
The Rocker Box Rosé is deep-pink watermelon in colour. This rosé has aromas of summer berries; strawberry and raspberry with bursts of crushed ripe cherries. Crisp and dry on the palate, it’s a fun refreshing wine.
Available at corkscrewcellars.com.au/ RRP $26.99
And our alcoholic-free option...
non-alc rosé alternative; Vinada’s Tinteling Tempranillo Rosé
Whether you're on the moderation train, a designated driver or not drinking for whatever reason you choose, you still want to be part of the fun and drink more than sparkling water. Enter premium non-alcoholic wine alternative, Vinada’s Tinteling Tempranillo Rosé.
The rosé is made in the Spanish wine region of La Mancha with Tempranillo grapes. The grapes are fermented and aged to preserve their colour, according to the traditional winemaking method. Vinada then uses a low (secret) temperature dealcoholisation process to retain most of the wine’s original aromas and taste.
Presenting a delicate salmon pink hue, with a medley of strawberry, redcurrant and raspberry flavours and a refreshing zing finish.
Vinada has won over 20 awards, and was most recently awarded a Gold medal at The Gilbert & Gaillard (one of France's key wine guides for more than two decades) International Wine Challenge 2023.
Added bonus, Vinada is vegan-friendly and low-calorie.
Available at danmurphys.com.au/ RRP $24
