Although historically many would order a rosé blindly, recent years have seen more discernment from our increasingly educated population. Such a broad category, covering multiple winemaking processes and endless varietal mixes, it’s so much harder to tell what will be in your glass than if you were ordering a Riesling or a Shiraz. Below is a snapshot, but click the links for full information on the wines. Find out the part each one has to play, figure out how to recommend them, what to drink with them and why you should seek them out.
Pasqua Capitolo Rosato di Puglia IGT 2025
Sangiovese | Puglia, Italy
Puglia on a budget: Exotic source location, indigenous grapes (Sangiovese and Primitivo) and lively tart/fruity balance all punch above the price point.
Majella Rosé 2025
Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra, SA
Juicy fruity balance: Estate-grown Shiraz and Cabernet fruit with bundles of varietal flavour, gorgeous acidity and just a touch of residual to keep it salivating.
Madfish Moscato NV
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains | Western Australia
The guilty pleasure: 12 hours of skin contact to bleed the variety’s pretty pink colour plus 105 g/L sugar make this our sweetest rosé wine.
Pasqua Romeo & Juliet Bianco 2024
Gargenega | Veneto, IT
Soave, but not as you know it, this is the same variety and region, but it’s had a touch of skins and a little appassimento to add oodles of complexity and depth.
Claymore Birdhouse in Your Soul Rosé 2024
Riesling | Clare Valley, SA
The iconoclast: 99% Clare Valley Riesling masquerading as rosé, this has exceptional precision and drive, sherbetty acidity and citrus flavours.
Tscharke Grenache Rosé 2025
Grenache | Barossa, SA
Seriously serious rosé: Biodynamic and single vineyard (Gnadenfrei North), this is bone dry, textured, has gemstone-like colour and intriguing complexity.
DiGiorgio Head in The Clouds Pinot Rosé 2024
Pinot Noir | Coonawarra, SA
Strawberries and cream: Bold strawberry Pinot character from really nicely ripe fruit, lashings of texture, appley acidity and a just-dry finish
Marchand & Burch Village Rosé 2025
Shiraz / Pinot Noir / Grenache | Great Southern, WA
Beauty with substance: Pretty of label, colour and flavour, this is all strawberry coulis, raspberry, musk and vanilla cream, yet bone dry with lovely salinity.
Gibson Discovery Road Rosé 2025
Graciano | Barossa, SA
Varietal wild card: Great depth and fullness, with concentrated flavours and strong varietal character of rose petals, musk, red currant and raspberry.
Howard Park Miamup Rosé 2024
Shiraz / Sangiovese | Margaret River, WA
Weight and gravitas: Lees work, oak influence and partial malolactic fermentation combine to create genuine texture and savoury complexity.
Sir Paz Cherry Tree Rosé 2024
Merlot | Yarra Valley, Vic
Floral elegance: Cool climate Merlot structure and herb/floral complexity join a Provence yeast strain for classy, savoury balance.
Fantini Calalenta Rosé 2025
Merlot | Abruzzo, Italy
Powerfully fragrant: Ripe, Adriatic fruit and cryomaceration have turbo-
charged the aromatics here, it’s luscious, luxe and lingering.
Down the Rabbit Hole Friends & Lovers 2026
Sangiovese | McLaren Vale, SA
Ultra-dry and pure: Organic, and an artwork in purity, this has less than 0.5 g/L residual yet the complex aromatics and texture to keep it interesting.
Charles Melton Rose of Virginia 2026
Grenache / Shiraz/ Mataro | Barossa Valley, SA
Aussie benchmark: Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, this wine revolutionised the style made here, showing us Rosé didn’t have to be flippant.
Leone De Castris Five Roses 2024
Negroamaro | Puglia, Italy
Savoury balance: Delicately perfumed and ultra-dry finish with crunchy yellow fruits, salinity and green almonds in-between. Lip-smacking stuff.
Pasqua 11 Minutes Rosato Trevenezie 2025
Corvina, Trebbiano Lugana, Syrah, Carmenère | Veneto, Italy
The seducer: Floral, spicy and irresistibly aromatic, this multi-varietal blend pairs complexity with easy charm. A rosé that quietly finishes itself.
Vallepicciola Pievasciata Rosato IGT 2024
Pinot Noir | Toscana, Italy
For curious cats: Guide Espresso’s Winery of the year, Pinot Noir from Chianti, single vineyard, cryomaceration, phenolic depth, plenty to talk about here.
Rosa dei Masi 2023
Merlot | Valpolicella, Italy
High-altitude precision: Over 700m up from the commune of Negrar, this has pristine Merlot fruit with 6 months lees maturation, batonnage and malo for texture.
