Rosé is finally having the renaissance it deserves, and retailers are celebrating its explosive popularity. Walk into any wine shop this summer, and you’re likely to see a festively decorated display—if not an entire wall—spotlighting bottles in all shades of pink. But with such an abundance of options, how do retailers help customers navigate the selection? SevenFifty Daily spoke with nine wine purveyors around the country to find out which of these refreshing summer sippers are actually their preferred picks—for under $20.
1. Quady North Rosé, Oregon, $16.50
Recommended by Carrie Wynkoop, owner of Cellar 503; Portland, Oregon
“My favorite rosé of all time is the Quady North GSM from Rogue Valley,” says Wynkoop. “It retails at $16.50 and is a steal for how good it is!” Quady North Rosé, a blend of 48 percent Grenache, 42 percent Syrah, 9 percent Mourvèdre, and 1 percent Counoise, is produced in Jacksonville, Oregon. “It has a bright citrus skin note that balances the full fruit flavor,” Wynkoop says. “The finish is crisp and refreshing, and at only 12.4% ABV, it’s an easy drinking wine—perfect with cheese, salads, or BBQ.”
2. Parés Baltà Ros de Pacs Rosé, Penedès, Spain, $14.99
Recommended by Deb Mortillaro, co-owner of Dreadnought Wines, Soirée Partners, and Palate Partners School of Wine & Spirits; Pittsburgh
“Robust in color, the Ros de Pacs is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and some Cabernet Sauvignon, which all contribute to giving this wine a fair amount of weight to complement the vibrant red fruits on the nose,” says Mortillaro. She particularly loves the high acidity and cherry-raspberry flavors in this Spanish wine, which are enhanced by an “ever so slight bit of residual sugar.”
3. Château Revelette Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé, France, $18.00
Recommended by Alex Head, owner of The Vino Gallery; St. Louis
Provence reigns king over in St. Louis. “I suppose I would go with the Château Revelette Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence,” says Head. “It has a perfect balance with a burst of flavors, especially strawberry, with just the right amount of acidity for enjoying a sunny afternoon on a patio or in the pool.”
4. Commanderie de la Bargemone Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rosé, France, $14.99
Recommended by Lenny Rede, marketing manager at Esquin Wine & Spirits; Seattle
“My personal favorite is Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé of Provence,” says Rede, explaining that the wine is pale copper in color, with aromas of white currants and wild strawberries. On the palate, he says, the wine is “crisp, with mouthwatering acidity and the right balance of fruit—white peach, Rainier cherry, and pink grapefruit. Bone dry and easy to drink—just about perfect.” Rede describes Bargemone as the benchmark against which he judges all other rosés. “A magnificent wine,” he says, “and at a price that (nearly) everyone can afford.”
5. Clos Cibonne Tentations Côtes de Provence Rosé, France, $17.99
Recommended by James Voltz, co-owner of The Raleigh Wine Shop; Raleigh, North Carolina
“Clos Cibonne, imported by our friends and colleagues at De Maison Selections, annually produces some of our favorite rosés,” says Voltz, describing Clos Cibonne’s Tentations as “classic Provence”—composed of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah and “bolstered by the addition of Tibouren,” an indigenous variety that Cibonne has championed for generations. “Dry, crisp, and refreshing, with 10 weeks lees aging to make it silky smooth and eminently quaffable,” Voltz says, “it’s everything great rosé should be!”
6. Von Winning Spätburgunder Rosé, Germany, $19.99
Recommended by JT Robertson, general manager at Le Dû’s Wines; New York City
“It’s refreshing to see our clients venturing out from the ubiquitous Provençal rosé,” says Robertson, noting that the natural transition is usually to rosés crafted from Pinot Noir, which “possess all the unbearable lightness of being, while also delivering a more complete and complex overall package.” He describes the Von Winning Spätburgunder Rosé as being characterized by weight, tension, and a mineral undercurrent, with “pillowy softness and a lifted strawberry crème fruit profile, which can equally be paired at the table or pounded on the porch.”
7. Famille Cornut Château Guiot Costières de Nîmes Rosé, France, $14.99
Recommended by Adam Nelson, wine buyer at Dallas Fine Wine & Spirits Shoppe; Dallas
“The rosé I am currently in love with,” says Nelson, “is the Château Guiot rosé from the Costières de Nîmes in the southern Rhône Valley. The reason I love it is that it has a broad appeal, like Whispering Angel, but has more body and complexity at half the price, without being overly serious.”
8. Kings Carey Rosé of Grenache, California, $19.99
Recommended by Carey Vanderborg, wine specialist at Ancona’s Wines & Liquors; Wilton, Connecticut
Kings Carey Rosé of Grenache is a 100 percent Grenache wine from Santa Barbara, with fruit sourced from Brick Barn Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley, aged on its lees in neutral barrels. “The end result is a beautifully round rosé, with aromas of ripe strawberries, cranberries, and creamy cherry parfait,” says Vanderborg. The palate, he adds, is balanced and delicious, backed by a finish of crisp limestone minerality. “This is killer rosé from one of the most talented winemakers in Santa Barbara,” he says, “and it’s on the shelf for less than $20—we call that a no-brainer!”
9. J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto Rosé, Oregon, $18.00
Recommended by Kate Bolling, owner of Oregon Wines on Broadway; Portland, Oregon
“My favorite Oregon rosé this season,” says Bolling, “is the J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto Rosé, a blend of Grenache and Syrah sourced from the Gorge.” The wine is “light, bright, and so easy to drink,” she adds. “For a more traditional Willamette Valley rosé,” she says, “the Ayres, made with Pinot Noir, is delicious and fresh, with classic Pinot notes of fresh strawberry and red cherry—it’s also $18.”
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Vicki Denig is a wine, spirits, and travel journalist based between New York and Paris. Her work regularly appears in Decanter, WineSearcher, Food & Wine, and more. She also works as a content creator / social media manager for a list of prestigious clients, including Beaupierre Wine & Spirits, Corkbuzz, Veritas Imports, and Crurated.
