I’m a bit late to the party with Great British Rosé Week, which technically ended on Monday. Oops. The fact that this celebration is now in its 6th year however, just goes to show how far still and sparkling rosé from England and Wales have come. About 25% of all wine made in Great Britain is pink and, fun fact, the grapes usually used these days are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - the two black grapes that go into white and pink Champagne. Here are some gorgeous English pinks to sip now the sun is making an appearance again:
Northbrook Sparkling Rosé 2020, HAMPSHIRE, £42 northbrookvineyard.co.uk
I hadn’t heard of this winery until last year but I am now totally smitten. Gorgeous on the outside as well as on the inside, this single vineyard, vintage sparker embodies elegance and complexity with a quintessentially English, wild strawberry, white blossom and hedgerow character, topped off with a creamy mousse and a touch of brioche. There’s so much going on in the glass. For a vintage wine with age at this price, it’s a bargain too.
Digby Rose Brut MV, Sussex, £39 Swig
I was lucky enough to be amongst the first to taste this new cuvée at the Digby residence in West Sussex earlier this year. A blend of largely Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and Meunier, the wine uses the 2018 vintage as its base with reserve wines blended in six years (six!) of lees aging before release, which gives it that signature Digby complexity and creaminess. Think Eton mess with dried rose petals and a textural, chalky tang. A serious, foodie fizz that will age for years to come too.
Nyetimber English Summer Rosé, Limited Edition, Sussex, £47 Nyetimber
You will undoubtedly have heard of Nytimber but chances are you haven’t spotted their brand new, limited edition English Summer Rosé bottle yet. A sexy new, relaxed outfit for their multi-vintage rosé, the wine features Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir and as you might expect, captures a light, bright, summer pudding vibe beautifully in the glass.
Silver Reign Rosé, Silverhand Estate, Kent, NV, £18 Silverhandestate.com
What I love about Silverhand Estate is the way they have embraced the Charmat method (which makes Prosecco) but use Champagne grapes. The result is much of the flavour of a delicious traditional method sparkling but with a touch more easy-going ripeness and fruit - not to mention a much lower price tag. Silverhand is also now the largest single organic vineyard in the UK and is packed with biodiversity, rare animals and as much forest land as vines. Well worth a visit.
M&S Rockferne English Sparkling Wine Rosé, Sussex, £30 M&S and Ocado
M&S scored a blinder when they teamed up with Roebuck Estates in Sussex to make this sparkling pink, which is made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Elegant but generous, this delicately coloured sparkler is all about fresh pastry, rose and wild strawberry fruit. Think of a fresh strawberry tart with a delicate almond paste and a dollop of cream to finish. Stunning - and a great all rounder.
Folc Dry English Rosé, South East England, £22 Ocado £22.99 Folc
Folc was the first dry, still English pink I tried and it’s still the one to beat! The company only makes this wine, so they have thrown everything at it. Made with a blend of seven different grape varieties from independent, family-owned vineyards across Kent, Suffolk and Sussex, this wine has a little bit of everything - red berry notes, floral aromatics, leafiness, mineral tang and bramble fruit. Not surprising when it features Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Précoce, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and a splash of Ortega! A unique pink.
Gusbourne Still Rosé, Kent 2025 Hedonism
Gusbourne is the quietly confident, Kentish producer based in Appledore that has been hoovering up the awards over the past few years both for their sparkling and their still wines. This still pink is their very first still, dry rosé and it’s a cracker. Made with 100% Pinot Noir, it’s super cool and crisp and fresh with notes of tangy cranberry and crunchy raspberry. The bottle looks pretty cool too. With its glass stopper, you’ll want to use it for water afterwards!
Got a favourite? Let me know!
Helena