The February heatwave started us thinking about sitting in beer gardens with a refreshing drink. So a great excuse to talk about rose wine – as if we needed one!

While sales of pink gin have soared in recent years, rose wines seems to have slipped off the popularity ladder. Perhaps we think of rose wine only as a sweet drink – White Zinfandel has a place firmly planted in the summer beer garden as a delicious drink (especially when chilled), but if you don’t have a sweet tooth then you’ll probably not reach for the second glass.

Step in the new wave of rose wines – dryer, crisper and perhaps more citrus, and superbly refreshing (on any day to be honest, not just in the sun). So, where to stop first on our journey of rose discovery?

  1. The Three Thieves

This wine hails from the spiritual second home of Rose wine – California. These ‘Thieves’ are in fact three rock stars in the world of winemaking: Charles Bieler, Joel Gott and Roger Scommegna. All three have illustrious winemaking careers spanning decades and crossing the globe, and each has branched out into other highly successful ventures – anyone who’s been lucky enough to travel to California is likely to have eaten at a Gott’s Roadside.

These “Liberators of Fine Wines” have created a fresh, juicy rose which is a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Merlot. They describe it as:

Our delicate rosé shows a pale pink hue in the glass, while the nose brims with aromas of white peach and apricot. The fresh, vibrant palate offers flavours of strawberry and tart cranberry, framed by crisp acidity—perfect for kicking back with friends on a sunny afternoon.

  1. Nika Tiki Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Rose

Launching this summer, this unusual Sauvignon Blanc Rose is bursting with refreshing floral aromas with berry and spices. If you’re a fan of Sauvignon Blanc you’ll love this! The traditional Sauvignon Blanc you’d expect build to a flavour explosion with hints of berries from the addition of red fruit.

As with all the best Sauvignon Blancs, this wine comes from the famed Marlborough region

Where a combination of a cool yet high sunshine climate, low rainfall and free-draining, moderately fertile soil produces uniquely vivid wines.

While Sauvignon Blanc is one of the best-selling wines in the world, Sauvignon Blanc Rose is a relatively new concept – but one we’re confident will boom this summer! Perfect for rosé and Sauvignon lovers alike, what’s not to love?!

  1. Bieler Pere et Fils

As the name suggests, this is a French wine made in traditional Provence style – but by an American! This is the second appearance for Charles Bieler (see Three Thieves attached) who lives in New York but travels across the US and France making wine with various other winemakers including The Three Thieves and also Charles Smith as ‘Charles and Charles’. However, this particular brand is rather close to his heart:

In 1992, my father, Philippe Bieler, founded Chateau Routas in Coteaux Varois — a small appellation in the middle of Provence. The winery focused on Grenache based red blends and Rosé. My sister Mira and I got involved in the mid 90’s when we developed, through unorthodox winemaking and creative marketing and selling, one of the more dynamic Rosé brands in America at the time. In 2005 there was a great opportunity to sell the winery and estate and we took it. The same year we sold Routas, we founded Bieler Père et Fils with a single-minded focus on making Rosé. We have been making wine in Provence since 1992.

So what about the wine itself?  The classic, light coloured, dry Provence Rosé profile is famed, and for good reason. Bieler’s goal is find the delicate balance between floral, herbal, wild red fruit (not overly ripe), stone fruit and acid. The wine is in no way heavy or fat on the palate, but rather it has tremendous length in addition to the raspberry, cherry, peach,

herbal, citrus and mineral core.

Light, fruity and fabulous.

For more information on wines included within this article, please visit www.lanchesterwines.co.uk