The Rosé Wave Keeps Building

BY JOSH RAYNOLDS | AUGUST 9, 2017&nbsp;

As incredible as it may seem, worldwide demand for rosé
seems to actually be increasing beyond what were already historical highs.
While many experienced members of the trade have been fearful of market
saturation and consumer ennui or even burnout, according to importers, retailers
and sommeliers that I’ve spoken to recently, that just hasn’t happened.

Looking back on the hundreds of pink wines that I tasted
for this year’s coverage, I am at turns impressed by the
category’s consistency and a bit disappointed in how few of the wines were
genuinely outstanding. While there is no question that it’s far easier to
blindly grab a serviceable Rosé off the shelf today than ever before, it’s not
much easier to find one that’ll really turn your head, percentage-wise, than in
years past.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1502221384627-L1020590+copy.JPG"> 

It’s surprising, in many ways, that this is the case as
there is ample evidence that plenty of consumers are clearly happy to drop big
bucks for pink wines these days. The average cost per bottle for Rosés has been
climbing almost as fast as production, export and import numbers, and
that’s especially true for French versions in general and Provence renditions
in particular. Wines from well-known, high-end estates&nbsp;such as Domaines
Tempier, Pibarnon and Ott are often on allocation and, while a handful of other
producers have joined them in the upper-tier end of the market, demand-wise,
their number pales next to the sheer mass of lower-end bottlings that now available.&nbsp;

My advice, as with all wine regions outside the US, is to
pay close attention to the importers as the best ones have too much reputation
at stake to mess around with mediocre wines from anywhere. This year, as is
usually the case, I tried quite a number of excellent entry-level Rosés from less
well-known regions that were selected by serious importers. I often preferred
those wines to many others made by obscure producers from famous areas like
Côtes de Provence and Sancerre that are simply riding into the market on the
category’s current wave of popularity. What’s written on the back label is
often as, or even more, important than what is&nbsp;written on the front.

You Might Also Enjoy&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/2017-rose-roundup-drink-now-drink-later-jun-2017">2017 Rosé Roundup: Drink Now, Drink Later</a>, Josh Raynolds, June 2017

<a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/2016-a-very-good-year-for-italy-s-many-rosatos-may-2017">2016: A Very Good Year for Italy’s Many Rosatos</a>,&nbsp;Ian
D'Agata, June 2017

<a target="_blank" href="http://vinous.com/articles/2017-rose-roundup-more-wines-than-ever-part-1-jun-2017">2017 Rosé Roundup: More Wines than Ever</a>,&nbsp;Josh
Raynolds, June 2017

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