There is something about this time of year \u2013 the evenings are lighter, the trees are full of colourful leaves, sitting outside beyond 6pm is actually a viable option, and you might have even had a barbeque or two. But the main thing about this time of year is that you can guarantee your fridge is absolutely bursting with ros\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Sipping a perfectly chilled glass of ros\u00e9 (hopefully outdoors with good company) is synonymous with the beginning of summer. But where did the association between sunshine and a glass of pink wine come from? And why has ros\u00e9\u2019s popularity soared in the last couple of decades?<\/p>\n
There was a time not that<\/em> long ago when people wouldn\u2019t go near ros\u00e9 with a barge pole, let alone a wine glass, and the mere mention of white zinfandel sent shivers down one\u2019s spine. These days you can barely step out of the house before somebody has ordered a glass of it.<\/p>\n Helped by a shift in consumer tastes towards light, fresh, and approachable wines, it is the Provencal-style ros\u00e9s that have seen the biggest increase in popularity, with many consumers unfortunately still of the belief that dark equals sweet. In sunny Mediterranean regions like Provence, there is an almost cultural connection between ros\u00e9 wine and the summer months. So it\u2019s no surprise consumers come home and desire a glass of something that transports them back to their holidays. Most producers also release their ros\u00e9 in late spring or early summer, just in time for \u201cros\u00e9 season\u201d, as they say, cementing that connection between ros\u00e9 and warm weather.<\/p>\n The rise of social media, marketing campaigns, and an influx of celebrity wines has also played a part in lifting ros\u00e9\u2019s profile from something you wouldn\u2019t subject any barbeque guest to, to something you shouldn\u2019t even consider hosting a barbeque without. This rise in popularity has resulted in more competition between brands \u2013 often leaving us spoilt for choice \u2013 but has also driven winemakers to strive for better quality.<\/p>\n Of course nobody is saying that all ros\u00e9 was bad, and then it was all good because of a few marketing campaigns. There is no denying that top quality ros\u00e9 has always been out there, but only in the past few decades has so much of it been available to us. And with such a broad spectrum, from pale pink and refreshing to deep salmon and structured, with most pairing brilliantly with food – what\u2019s not to love?<\/p>\n Ros\u00e9 has firmly cemented itself as the wine for sunny days, and that\u2019s not set to change anytime soon. So, grab yourself a magnum of our best-selling ros\u00e9<\/a>, slather on the factor 50, and get into the sunshine. The time of year has come.<\/p>\nNeed to stock up in time for summer?<\/h4>\n