It’s time to swap your favourite reds for rosés

For years, the French have been more likely to reach for a glass of red over white. As for rosé, well, it was barely even seen as a wine, with buffs dubbing it a ‘swimming pool drink’.

Yet a younger generation of drinkers are changing the colour of the French wine landscape.  

Now, more and more are opting for a glass of pink over red, thanks to its lighter, fresher attributes and lower alcohol content. 

And it’s not just for summer; demand for rosé has risen all year round, while sales of red continue to fall.

Though red and rosé are seen as being poles apart, they both come from red grapes. Their differences lie in how the wine is made. 

With rosé, the skins and juice of the grapes are left together for a relatively short time — often just hours rather than days — to allow the juice to take on colour.

Fancy making the switch from red to rosé? Our wine expert Helen McGinn picks a bunch of rosés even the most die-hard red wine fans will find hard to resist …

Artesano de Argento Organic Malbec Rosé, £9, Sainsbury’s

FOR MALBEC LOVERS

Artesano de Argento Organic Malbec Rosé, £9, Sainsbury’s

From Bodega Argento’s organic vineyards in Alto Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina, this blend of 85 per cent Malbec and 15 per cent Syrah is all sourced from Fairtrade accredited vineyards. 

The high altitude and bright sunshine lock in flavour, making this a rosé with plenty of punch. 4/5

COTES CLASS 

Arbousset Tavel Rosé, £12.50, Tesco

Arbousset Tavel Rosé, £12.50, Tesco

Tavel is an appellation in the Southern Rhone that makes only rosés and they’re full-on in both colour and flavour. 

Made from a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault by star winemaker Julie Rouffignac, this one’s jam-packed with wild berry fruit flavours. Wonderfully weighty. 5/5

PROVENCE PRIDE

Cave Des Roches Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, £8.25, Tesco

With prices of Provence rosé creeping up, finding one under a tenner is a challenge. 

This one’s made by a large producer, hence the price. What’s more, Coteaux d’Aix tends to produce a weightier style of rosé. 3/5

JUICY PORT

Mimo Moutinho Portuguese Dao Rosé, £6.49, Aldi

This Portuguese rosé is from the Dao, a region just below the Douro Valley where Port is made. The combination of granite soils and altitude helps the region produce wines full of character. 

Made from a blend of mostly Touriga Nacional, this one’s super juicy with plenty of red berry fruits. 4/5

AFFORDABLE SYRAH

Porcupine Ridge Rosé, £6.99, Waitrose

Many a red wine lover struggles to resist the South African red, The Chocolate Block, but it’s worth knowing the same winemaking team is behind this affordable rosé from the Western Cape, too. 

Made from a blend of Syrah and Cinsault grapes, it’s full of juicy red berry fruits with a dash of spice to boot. 3/5

PERKY PINOT

Sainsbury’s Rosé Cava, £6.25

A bright, fruity sparkling wine made from a blend of red Trepat and Pinot Noir grapes, this is properly pink with gorgeous red berry fruits. 

Made in the same way as Champagne, but from a much warmer region in Spain, it’s aged on its lees (the name for yeasts after fermentation) for at least nine months, adding more depth of flavour. 5/5

IN THE PINK 

Vinho Verde Rosé, £7.50, M&S

There’s nothing shy and retiring about this one. Another Portuguese rosé, but from Vinho Verde in the north of the country, it is made by family winery Quinta das Arcas from local Espadeiro and Touriga Nacional grapes. 

The result is very pink, with redcurrant fruit flavours. And at just 11 per cent alcohol, it’s a lot lighter than most reds. 4/5

• Helen’s book The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide is out now.