10 Rosés I’m Drinking This Summer. (And a Cheese Board, Of Course!)
Oh hi summer!
Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite subjects. Rosé! The best rosé to drink this summer. All the rosé that I’m freaking over right now in 2018. Sounds about right.
Because, you guys! One of the questions I’m asked most in the summer is… what is your FAVORITE rosé?! Or… what rosé should I buy this weekend?! I use lots and lots of rosé in my cocktails (you know this!) but also love to drink it (and talk about it…) like the millennial that I am.
And here! I’m going to tell you about my top ten favorites. My faves of the pretty pink bottle that we can’t stop buying in the summer.
First up, the deets. I love dry rosés. I don’t want a sweet rosé. Or at least not a very sweet rosé. Dry is where it’s at for me.
Second, I didn’t get all fancy with the tasting notes here. I wanted to give you a quick rundown of my favorite brands, stress-free. But I do love rosé that has hints of watermelon and cherry and some light floral flavor. Yessss.
I know that there are different regions for rosé, but I can say with confidence that after years of drinking it? I prefer rosés from Provence, specifically coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence! So fancy. That’s why I’m doing a post on ten bottles that I love, as opposed to rosés from different regions or rosés that I want to try. These ten here? They are the ones I’m buying the most often. You’ll probably see three stand outs below that I purchase the most, but other than that, the rest are all game.
You’ll also notice that some of the bottles below are dated from 2016. With rosé, you want to buy it aged from the previous year (or maaaaybe one year before, but it’s not a wine that gets better with age) so I’m hoping that since I shot this early in the season, it’s the reason why my store still had bottles from 2016. However, being in Pennsylvania (a control state), our pickings can be slim! Lacy and I went to multiple different stores to check out the rosé selection over the last few months (err, years?) and ended up happiest with these.
Oh and ones I’m rambling about here? They are all non-sparkling (saying “flat” sounds terrible and gross) and non-cider variations. I love sparkling versions too (and I’m dying to try the cider but haven’t yet!), but wanted to focus on the bottles without the bubbles.
Also! You guys give me amazing recommendations for rosé on instagram but sometimes I can’t get my hands on it being here in PA. And it’s quite depressing that my Trader Joes and Whole Foods don’t sell wine! Leave all your favorites below and on my travels, it’s my mission to seek them out.
Now for the goods! We have ten bottles below and I just wrote a quick note for you about why I love them. Nothing fancy or too wine-techy (there is an amazing article on food and wine for that!), but since you always ask – these are the rosés that I buy! For sipping, sangria-ing and gifting.
Underwood Rosé
I see Underwood rosé everywhere and honestly, first tried it after seeing it all over instagram. I thought it might be hyped up but I ended up loving it and was surprised at how dry it was. It’s a good one! And I love that it’s from Oregon.
Really wanted to include a canned rosé in this post, but I couldn’t find many – and really couldn’t find one I love. But you can get Underwood in a canned version!
Fabre de Provence
This is the sweetest of the bunch here, but it’s still not SWEET sweet. And it’s so pretty that I’d buy it for the bottle alone… you know? This is a good place to start if you have dry rosé haters in your life. Also great for sangria.
Miraval Rosé
Let’s just throw it out there that Brad and Angelina bought the Miraval castle and got married there. My oh my. This is the priciest rosé in the group (and usually the priciest one I will buy – the prices vary, at my liquor store it was around $30) but it’s delish. It’s full bodied and dry. The bottle is also so pretty! Okay I promise I’ll stop saying that.
Whispering Angel Rosé
Whispering Angel is super smooth and light and frankly… can almost be sipped like water! It’s so perfect on a hot summer day.
Notorious Pink
This is a new-to-me rosé that I only first bought two months ago. But I think it’s my new favorite! Like, getting to be my top favorite. We drank this on Memorial Day when it was 90 degrees around the pool and it was SO wonderful. It’s just so light. At the moment, this is my #2 pick.
Minuty Rosé
If you’ve been following my cocktail posts for a few years, you know that two years ago I discovered Minuty and fell in love. It’s been my favorite ever since. It’s light and smooth and not sweet at all. The bottle? Gorg. (sorry!) It’s my #1!
Aime Roquesante Rosé
This is the rosé that reeeally got me into rosé! Lacy first introduced me to this over three years ago. We drank it for a few years and I bought this most often, until I found Minuty, which I ended up loving a little more. I still really love this one. Dry and delicious!
La Crema Pinot Noir Rosé
La Crema makes some of my favorite wine (their Pinot Noir is practically the only one I drink) and when I found their rosé, I was super excited. This one is pretty dry as expected and it goes super well with a cheese board. It’s a bit on the pricier side though.
Hecht & Bannier Rosé
Another new-to-me bottle this year that I’ve fallen in love with. Very dry and light. And I saw this on two different menus while I was in Nashville this past week. Delish.
Nicolas Pinot Noir Rosé
This rosé is one I recently tried as another Pinot Noir version – and it’s cheaper than the La Crema above. It was also really good. Lacy actually liked this one better than the La Crema – however, Nicolas was her #1 favorite rosé last year, and this year she doesn’t love it quite as much. So crazy how the vintage flavors change year to year.
And now for the best part? Okay okay, one of the best. Isn’t the rosé the best?
THE CHEESEBOARD. OF COURSE.
I like to keep it super seasonal here. Since we’re in June, we have a few strawberries and cherries, some sugar snap peas and the traditional grapes, of course. Can’t skip the olives because everything tart and briney is life. Honeycomb for sweetness. Baguettes and crackers – the seedier the better!
My ideal summer night is full of chilled rosé, a fab cheese board to snack on and a killer playlist. We need nothing else.
Summer Rosé Cheese Board
Ingredients
- cheese
- merlot or syrah soaked cheddar
- gorgonzola or shropshire blue
- brie or taleggio
sweet
- strawberries
- bing cherries
- honeycomb
- grapes
- fresh figs
- fig jam
savory
- prosciutto
- sopressata
- marinated olives
crunchy
- seedy flatbread
- sliced baguette
- breadsticks
- fried marcona almonds
fresh
- sliced radish
- sugar snap peas
Instructions
- Arrange it all on a pretty board and go to town!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
Now that I’ve rambled on about my favorites, tell me yours! There are so many excellent rosés out there and I wish I could get my hands on all of them.
Leave a comment with your favorite rosé (or two?) because I have a huuuuge notes section in my phone filled with rosés to try when I travel. And I’m going to use this comment section as a resource!
Why can’t every day look like this.
74 Comments on “10 Rosés I’m Drinking This Summer. (And a Cheese Board, Of Course!)”
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My husband is a teacher and this year, one of his families gifted him a bottle of rose called Summer Water and I like “this is peak rose, right here.”
In the event you find yourself in Vermont (please come to VT – you would love it!!), you should try Shacksbury Cider’s rose cider – it’s pure hard apple cider aged on local marquette grape skins and it is EVERYTHING. Full on “I! Can’t! Even!” everything.
Happy summer, Jessica!
i really want to try the summer water!! and thanks – that sounds amazing! i need to try.
Seconding the Vermont and the shacksbury love! They make my favorite ciders in the state- and the rose one is excellent.
We do have excellent food and drink culture here, I think (at least in the Burlington area where I am).
Omg amazing!! I’m doing a whole Rosé Week on my blog this week so I’ve had Rosé on the brain for a LONG time. I love Underwood too, and am so happy I can generally find it everywhere. There was one called Summer Water that I got through a wine delivery service last year that I LOVED but I think you can only get it through that service which is a bummer. Thank you for putting this together – so helpful!!
LOVE that!! going to check it out. i’ve also wanted to try summer water forever!
Our Whole Foods carries Summer Water!
Good list! I work in the food and beverage industry and am the director of beverage for 10 major international airports, so I’ve had my fair share of rose :) You should try Sanford. I love Provençal rose as well, but this one is California and really delicious. Also, for an inexpensive option, Juliette is a great choice. And, it’s from Provence.
thanks allison!! going to try them!
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This is awesome! I loves rose’s but only dry and usually medium-bodied because if they’re too light they can sometimes taste like drinking straight alcohol if that makes sense? My recent fav is the Willamette Rose and whispering angel is a nostalgic vacation rose for me. My fav sparkling rose is the Louis bouillot perle d’aurore brut rose- yum!!
totally makes sense!! i’m going to look for both of those. thanks natalie!
I love the Notorious Pink too! Plus, the pink glass stopper is so pretty! Being in Pennsylvania kind of sucks for wine selection, but you’ve got it pretty well covered here. Happy summer sipping!
the stopper is gorgeous! i never want to throw them away, haha.
Ha I’m in Pittsburgh so am definitely bookmarking this list! I feel your pain on the lack of TJ’s wine.
I know boxed wine is hit or miss but the Bota Box Dry Rose has been my go-to this spring . Now if only the Lawrenceville Fine Wines store could keep it in stock…
i almost bought that one!! i didn’t try. i’m going to now – thanks alli!
I feel for you both! My favorite Rose right now is TJs Boxed Rose. Simple and tasty. Prob. not the best but it is pretty handy. I mean, obviously, I buy it cause I’m eco friendly…not cheap. I adore rose.
I’m laughing so hard because I know NOTHING about rosé (I love cocktails best) BUT I am all about the hunt! We live in Pennsylvania but originally hail from Michigan. When I read that Aldi (yes, the grocery store) had one of the world’s best rosé’s (according to Forbes) I had to hunt down a bottle! Well, it took me a year but I finally found it on our last visit. My daughter and I made your Watermelon Frosé using it over Memorial Day! I have to say, alone or in the frosé it is delicious! The Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence is around $10 a bottle!
Passing your list on to my daughter! We will test them all this summer when we meet up in Petoskey!
i love that julie!!! :)
I love Miraval and Minuty, too. Can’t wait to try the Underwood. Cote de Roses by Gerard Bertrand is my current favorite. I first tried it in Massachusetts last summer, and now I can find it easily in Florida. It’s a crowd pleaser, dry and light.. but I’m not ashamed to say it’s all about the bottle! There’s an embossed rose bottom. Stunning! I want to use it to stamp roses on something. My last name is Rose, so naturally this is our house rosé.
going to look for that! how fun!
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If you come back to Aurora this year, try the Sheldrake Winery Rose – it’s my favorite :) It’s just across the lake from the Aurora Inn. I’m excited to try your recommendations!
i am dying to come back there!! i will keep this in mind. thanks charlie!
This is a wonderful list! I wanted to mention – you can get Miraval at TotalWine for $20!! :) Not sure if you have one of those where you live but I bet you could get it online if your serious about saving some doll-hairs! Will be referring to this list this summer, thank you!
so i did see that because i was initially going to add prices into this list… but they can’t ship it to me since I’m in PA. :( i wish!!
jessica – I thought that wine shipping rule was over turned and you can get up to so many cases per year now? my parents still live in pennsylvania (i’m in nevada) and thought we “celebrated” the new rule!
If you live near (ish) a Total Wine you can order/pay online and pick up in store. I’m also in PA but drive to DE for ‘Total Wine Runs.’ It’s a thing.
Yess!! 10 new Roses to try!! We have an amazing winery here on Long Island that only serves Provence inspires Roses and it’s my favorite thing ever … even got my husband on board with the pink drink ; )
love that!
I’ve actually never tried rose but okaaaaay I am HERE for this photography??? Most beautiful post ever, you are killing it! Those millenial colors though!!!
never tried it?! omg!
and thank you so, so, so much!
I live here in Oregon. We have some great wines. Remind yourself in the fall to try some Oregon Pinot Noir. We have lots to choose from.
would love to! xo
Underwood also does cans of their Rose Bubbles (although i’ve only been able to find those in Oregon) – so good!
ahhh i want some of that!
Ahh! I loveeee rose and get so excited for summer. I can’t wait to try some of these. I love the Underwood one! My all time personal favorite is L’Opale which is from the Provence region! Definitely worth a try if you can find it!
awesome, thank you for the rec!
Thank you so much for this post! 💕 My absolute favorite Rosè is Julia’s Dazzle! The bottle is so fancy and pretty and the is probably the best Rosè I’ve tried. The ABV is also pretty high at 13.5, it’s a definite winner …The only problem is, it’s pretty hard to find. When I find it at any fine wine and good spirits in PA, I buy them ALL! If I can’t get Julia’s Dazzle, I love Kim Crawford. Pretty tasty! 2 or my other faves are Cote des Roses {amazingly gorgeous bottle with a GLASS cork!!!} and SOFIA.
that sounds incredible!!! thanks!
Ugh, LOVE Rose. Whispering Angel is my go-to (my friends had an Angel themed party once, everyone dressed up in light pink/gold/glitter/ with angel halos and wings)– But I discovered a SPARKLING ROSE at a wine tasting a couple weeks ago, and it ranks up there as some of the best, ever. It’s a bit hard to find, but its called Santa Margherita Sparkling Rose. You will die.
oooh def want to try it!
I went to Aix en Provence 5 summers ago and have been on the rosé kick ever since! My favorite is Miraval, but Target’s $12 “Yes Way Rosé” is NOT BAD!
I really want to like rose, thank you so much for this list! My go to wines are dry pino grigio, dry proseccos, and sauvignon blancs, I’ll have to work my way through your list and hopefully it will convince me to like rose’.
My favorite rosés are also Provençal, although I’ve been trying to be adventurous and have tried some Spanish rosados and even a rosé from Mulderbosch (South Africa) this year that was killer! However, if you’re in PA like me and having a big party or can just go through some wine in a week, Chateau Montaud is one from Provence that you can grab in a 4-bottle box for $29. The East Liberty W&S by Whole Foods always has them. I actually made your lavender sangria subbing this wine for the white and a few neighbor ladies and I killed two pitchers on a Tuesday night… I’m sorry/You’re welcome :)
I love the La Crema Rose! Also, the Kendall Jackson Vitner’s Reserve Rose is delicious (and a more economical price point)! You should be able to find it at the grocery store!
Thanks for the list! I just hit up the Oakmont store & found 3: Nicolas (9.99), Minuty (17.99) & Hecht & Bannier (10.99). Will be trying one, or more, tomorrow night with your black pepper strawberry balsamic pasta salad & bison steaks!
Underwood and Whispering Angel are in my top 3 for sure, but Bridge Lane is my #1. Hard to find here in Pittsburgh, but they sell bottles, boxes and kegs of their wine on their website!!! 🍷 Cheers!
Yes! Bridge Lane is the best!!! Also Wollfer Estates Summer in a Bottle! Both amazing wi es from Long Island!!!
It makes me sad that you can’t buy wine at TJs or Whole Foods. TJs has a 2 Buck (now 3 buck) Chuck Rosè, which I picked up the other day but haven’t had a chance to try yet.
Your love for rose resembles my love for the cherry wines in northern MI. I’m sure you’ve tried 1 or 2 :) I actually just recently bought my first bottle of rose and I (shockingly) wasn’t impressed BUT I will say that after 18 months of not drinking (pregnancy, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation = not wanting to drink lol), my taste buds have changed. HOWEVER, I will forever be indebted in Hawthorne Vineyard’s Cherry Splendor wine on Old Mission Peninsula. It is the BEST cherry wine hands down… you’ve gotta try it next time you’re there!
If you ever find yourself in British Columbia – seriously, you need to visit the Okanagan – we have so many good roses right now. My favourite is Arrowleaf’s Rose but there’s so, so many to choose from. Come visit and I’ll show you around ;)
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Try Domaine D’Eole Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rose Six Cepages, Chateau des Annibals Coteaux Varois, La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Seven Hills Winery Dry Rose and L’Ecole No.41 Grenache Rose. All are stunning! You may have to search a little or have your wine store order them for you but you won’t be disappointed!!
The manager at my liquor store introduced me to Scaia Rosato when my other rose was sold out. He has never steered me wrong when I have asked him for suggestions. I am loving it, it is light and perfect for patio drinking!
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Love this! But you don’t mention where you buy the wines? Where can I get my hands on these? Thanks!
I love that you made this list! Thank you! I’m super into rose (I just had a baby 8 weeks ago and I’m so excited to be able to drink it again) and this list is perfect. The ones I’m loving right now are Josh cellars and Kim Crawford’s version. Both really good and not sweet. The cider version is fantastic as well. Thank you again for sharing!
Our local wine shop always talks about how much they love roses. I admit that I’ve never really been that into them since I’ve lumped their flavor all together, but decided I’d try the wine club they have for roses. I’m learning how diverse they can taste. One I’ve recently liked is The Pinot Project. I like drier roses like you. If you can find it, give it a try! :)
This cheese board looks epic. So so pretty and tasty <3
And is there anything better than rosé to wash it all down?
E || OH LA LATKES
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I am loving this post almost as much as I love rosé! I will seek out some of these. I tend to like a rosé that is somewhere in the middle for sweetness, with predominant berry flavor, especially strawberry. One of my go-tos is Famille Bougrier Rosé D’Anjou. I’ve seen it described as “off-dry”. I also really, really, REALLY like a bubbly rosé, but haven’t kept good enough notes on those – I tend to just order a glass on restaurant menus. Happy SUMMER!!!
Ok so all your faves are my faves… EXCEPT you HAVE to look for one called Hampton Water… it’s Jon Bon Jovi’s rosé and at first I was like wth? But bought it just because… ANYWAYYYYY it’s such a new fave! I hope you can get it in PA but since you’re so close to NJ hopefully your liquor store can get it! I’m telling you… it’s really good!!
I just had Graham Beck Brut Rose the other night when I was out at a wine bar and it’s my new fave! I had 4 glasses and basically didn’t sample much else on the menu! Then bought a new champagne cork and took a bottle home. Love it!
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Love this! Some of those bottles are so gorgeous! I really like Rosatello. It’s a budget sparkling rosé that is light, on the sweeter side of dry, and very very drinkable. I know it’s a “cheap” one but it’s the best cheap rosé I’ve had and I’d choose it over a lot of things.
What size is your cheese board, and how many people would you be able to serve with it? I’m thinking of doing something like this for my brother’s wedding rehearsal, maybe with a personalized cheese board, but I’m at a loss as to how big I should go.
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