How to Find the Best Rosé Wines

By Gregory Dal Piaz

A glass of rosé, like that pictured here, is a refreshing drink for the summer.I often get asked what the best wines are. In all honesty, that is a question without an answer. I can tell you which I think are the best wines of any given category, but even there you have producers who shine some years and stumble the next, and others who sporadically make exceptional wines.

How can you build an answer? You have to take two criteria into account: quality and consistency, with maybe a bonus point or two thrown in for style. Then you build a list based on probability. So, that's what I've done.

While I'll have tasted about 100 rosés by the end of this week, the results of this year's tastings only yield a best rosés of the year list. I can't and am not able to taste every rosé each year, but over the years I've found that certain producers do tend to shine with some regularity.

I've built three lists based on these producers, one each for France and Italy, with a third hosting a mixed basket of regions. I'm not saying that you are guaranteed to love each and every one of these wines, that would be foolish, but I am saying that these are producers that you should look out for and try.

The best way to know what the world's best producers of any wine are is to try them for yourself and record your impressions. Just build your own lists! It's easy and fun to keep track of your favorites.

I would love to see what your favorite rosés are so that next year when this question arises again, I can publish my own lists as well as the list of yours. A Snooth super users list of rosés! Let's get started with five of the top rosés from around the world:

1. Robert Sinskey Vin Gris of Pinot Noir: This rosé comes from California's Los Carneros region which stretches across both Napa and Sonoma Counties. The flavor features fresh, summery fruit and floral herbs.

2. Lopez Deheredia Vina Tondonia Rosado Gran Reserva: Hailing from Spain's Rioja Alta region, this Spanish rosado is made with a blend of both red and white grapes. The orange-hued wine is also aged in oak barrels creating a unique flavor.

3. Soter Vineyards Rosé: Another wine from the West Coast, the Soter Rosé is made at Soter Vineyards in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Drinkers taste passion fruit and fresh berries in this blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

4. Ameztio Getariako Txakolina Rubentis Rosé: While the name looks a bit hard to pronounce, this light and crisp wine from Spain's País Vasco is an easy going and refreshing option on a warm summer day.

5. Channing Daughters Rosato di Refosco: The Hamptons, a summer-time destination at the tip of Long Island, produced this dry pink wine with dark fruit flavors that pairs well with anything from melon to fish tacos.

For More of the top rosés from around the world, click here.

A few other lists of top rosés you may like:
- Top Rosés Tasted This Year
- France's Best Rosés
- Italy's Best Rosés

You may also like:
- How to Describe a "Wine Nose"
- Top 11 Wine Consuming Countries
- How to Read a French Wine Label