According to wine connoisseur Joelle Thomson, winter is the real season for rosé. Here, she shares why the world is in love with pink wine.
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It’s ruby in colour and packed with full-body flavour notes of berries and stone fruit, and while those pale Provonce-style roses are reminiscent of summer, blush wine has become popular for any season. It has outstripped white wine as a chilled go-to wine of choice in France, and here in New Zealand, it is trending strongly on the dry side. Particularly good in winter and pairs just as well with a warming substantial meal, even spicy dishes, as it does with a crisp garden salad. Known as rosé, blush, Rosato, or rosado, today it’s a beautiful wine to enjoy regardless of the weather outside.
Mason Hidden Valley Rosé, $36.
The Hidden Vineyard is a sunny vineyard site at the southern end of Te Muna Valley in Martinborough, and this 2024 rosé is the first vintage from this vineyard. It’s dry in taste with aromas of raspberries, a note of fresh thyme and a complex medium-bodied style. This is a brand to watch from winemaker Paul Mason, who will soon launch the first Mason Pinot Noir from this vineyard, which he and his partner Amy have recently purchased. The one-hectare site was planted by the late Bill Brink in 2002 with six different clones of Pinot Noir and has had patchy production until now. The Masons plan to build their brand as a go-to wine from Martinborough.
Graze with: Baked Little River brie, boysenberry fruit compote, and rosemary with almond crackers
Dine with: Roasted beetroot, walnuts and goat’s cheese salad
Rating: 17.5/20
Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé, $25.
This dry 2022 rose is floral-scented and one of Marlborough’s best-kept wine secrets. It’s light-bodied with summer berry flavours, a crisp, refreshing style, and a lingering delicious finish.
Graze with: Soft truffle cheese with sesame crackers
Dine with: Hot smoked salmon on sourdough with fresh rocket leaves
Rating: 17.5/20
Te Kano Central Otago Rosé, $27.
This 2022 sensational southern rosé is from Te Kano Wines in Bannockburn and is organic, dry, and fruity in aroma and taste. The taste of ripe melon, dried raspberries, and red apples underpins that citrus bite. It's a great, lightly chilled pink wine to enjoy all year round.
Graze with: Havarti cheese and French bread
Dine with: Panfried gurnard with fresh summer salad
Rating: 17.5/20
To warm the soul.