7 Rosé Producing Regions You Should Know
Rosé wines are produced throughout the style spectrum — and we have a special place in our hearts for just about all of them. In fact, the world of rosé vinification encompasses an entire globe of regions, featuring an array of grape varieties and preferred production methods. Not sure where to look? Here’s a quick survey of our favorite rosé producing appellations around the world.
Provence
It’s impossible to talk about rosé without Provence. Known as the wine world’s most prestigious and historically relevant region for pink wine, Provence takes credit for truly putting the rosé wine ‘category’ on the map. Rosés from Provence are crafted dry with refreshing acidity, perfect for the park or stoop on warm, sunny days. Higher quality bottles from reputable producers are great options to lay down for a few years (yes, great rosés can stand the test of time!) Popular grape varieties for Provençal rosé are Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Vermentino (Rolle), and more. Some of our favorite ageworthy options include Terrebrune's Bandol Rosé. Pair rosés from Provence with your favorite cheeses and charcuterie.
Corsica
Located 150 miles from Nice, the island of Corsica sits smack in the middle of the salty Mediterranean Sea. Sunny temperatures and saline sea breezes greatly influence the viticultural scene here, giving way to rosés full of fresh, red fruit flavors, as well as saline-tinged undertones and zesty acidity. Here, notable grape varieties used for Corsican rosé production are Nielluccio, Grenache, Sciacarello, and Vermentino. Two of our go-tos for Corsican wine and rosé are Domaine de Marquiliani and Comte Abbatucci.
Loire Valley
A hotbed for fizzy pét-nats and spunky natural wines, the Loire rosé scene is pretty unique. From the Pinot Noir based rosés of Sancerre, to the Cabernet Franc dominant pinks of Anjou, to the array of miscellaneous effervescent and sparkling wines in between, there’s really a style of rosé for everyone in this diverse region. Gamay and Grolleau are also popular for rosé (and red) production, crafting refreshing wines full of crunchy red berry flavors. Some of our favorites include Thibaud Boudignon's rosé of Cabernet Franc.
Piedmont
Many wine drinkers tend to skip right over Italy and look to France for rosé — but as much as we love French wines, this is a terrible mistake! Italy makes some super interesting rosé wines, from the bubbles of Franciacorta all the way to the Sangiovese-based pinks of Tuscany. However, it’s Piedmont where we fulfill our rosé cravings. Known locally as rosato, the wines are mainly produced from indigenous varieties, including Nebbiolo and Freisa. We love Nervi-Conterno's Rosato, it's more robust than your usual Provençal rosé, but perfectly balanced and great with food.
California
For far too long, California had the reputation for big, boisterous reds and over oaked Chardonnays-- thankfully, the stereotype has been broken. The Golden State is a hotbed for some of the new world’s most interesting wines, specifically single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, cool climate Chards, and refreshing California rosés. Some of our favorite pink bottles come from the southerly Santa Barbara region, specifically from the Santa Ynez Valley and Ballard Canyon. Grape varieties range all over the spectrum. One of our current favorites is the Arnot-Roberts Rosé, it's fresh, mineral-driven and delicious with salads, poached salmon, grilled poultry or veggies.
Champagne
Bubbly or rosé. If that's the question, with rosé Champagne and sparkling, you can have your cake and eat it too. Viticulture’s unofficial king of sparkling wine is undoubtedly special, though when served up pink, becomes slightly more compelling. Take pure, pristine bubbles, add some still Pinot Noir or Meunier, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously thirst-quenching experience. And while sipping from the big houses is certainly fine, we tend to gravitate towards smaller grower-producers for unique, artisanally produced bottles like Laherte-Frères, Chartogne Taillet or Selosse.
And for a few ‘off the beaten path’ options…
Some regions and grape varieties are no-brainers when it comes to rosé, however, at Verve Wine, we love to shed light on off the beaten path regions and varieties. We’re loving Pinot Noir rosé from Germany’s Rheinhessen region, Blaufränkisch rosé from Austria or the Finger Lakes, biodynamic blends from Greece, and spritzy Vinho Verde rosé from Portugal. Not sure where to find all this interesting wine? We’ve got a few bottles lying around and would love to share.