Rosé, also known affectionately as blush, comes in many different colours, styles and flavours. There is a trend today towards dry pink wines. Still, colour is not always the best indication of whether a wine is dry because flavour is a winemaking decision unrelated to colour. The blush of rosè comes from red grape skins, whereas dryness is about fermenting all of the natural sugars in grapes into alcohol. Without diving too deep into the technical process, there is no doubt that dry pale pink wines are on trend right now and here is a delicious bunch of our 2022 favourites to enjoy under the sun, says Joelle Thomson.
First Flight Startled Pink Rose, $21
This new dry pale pink rosé from Hawke’s Bay is full of red berry flavours and firm tannins, adding grip and length to the taste. Those summery aromas include pink guava, roses and grapefruit. This is a luscious rosè with a silky palate.
Graze with: Warm olives
Dine with: Lightly smoked antipasto meats and sourdough
Rating: 17.5/20
Now we’re talking. This is dry, weighty, and interestingly different from most pink wines from Pinot Noir grapes. This is a pale to medium colour with great flavours of dried cranberries and fresh acidity, adding length and a lively, crisp style. It comes from the Waitaki Valley in the South Island.
Graze with: flat breads with tapenade
Dine with: pan-fried fleshy white fish with a crisp green salad
Rating: 18.5/20
Another vintage Esk Valley rosé that is entirely dry. It has a gorgeous depth of flavour, thanks to being a blend of Merlot and Malbec grape varieties, which add complex aromas and a sense of a drier taste. This is one of my favourite New Zealand rosés.
Graze with: panfried almonds with smoked paprika
Dine with: lightly grilled salmon with salsa verde
Rating: 17.5/20
The home of this rose is a stunning 100-acre estate in Provence, just 30 minutes from the playground of the rich and famous Saint Tropez on the French Riviera. It screams beauty with its blush colour and stunning bottle (ideal for water on your dining table once drunk). It’s a classic Cotes de Provence rosé style, soft pink with juicy flavours of summer fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and watermelon. If you like your rosè with a crisp, dry finish - here it is.
Graze with: salmon with sourdough
Dine with: roasted vegetable salad
Rating: 17.5/20.
How to layer texture and colour to create a sleeping haven.