We all love to drink with our eyes and a glass of pale salmon-pink to celebrate National Rose Day (June 12) is proving more popular than ever before.

Along with the hordes of summer swillers who reach for rose on hot, sunny days, the launch of celebrity rose from the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and cult roses such as Whispering Angel, have helped spur the rose boom.

Sainsbury's sells more than 15 million bottles of rose a year, and it now accounts for one in 10 of all still wines sold, with 33% of shoppers surveyed saying they would drink it throughout the year.

"The rise in celebrity rose wines has sparked a trend amongst millenials for the aspirational 'Posh Pink' - often lighter and sometimes more expensive styles such as those from Provence," says Elizabeth Newman, Sainsbury's head of beers, wines & spirits.

The Brits still have a long way to go before catching up with France where rose outsells white wine, but Sainsbury's now offers a range of 55 still rose wines from around the world, with Nectar data showing a 12.4% increase in sales from July 2014 to July 2015... our favourite month to imbibe a Riviera lifestyle.

:: Sainsbury's most popular rose, Taste the Difference Cotes de Provence Rose 2015, France (£8, Sainsbury's) certainly looks the part in its classic, corset-shaped bottle and this garden party pleaser is most often bought with smoked salmon and party food. A brilliant light pink with freshness and fragrance, the delightful fruit flavours and soft, well-balanced acidity rivals more expensive producers in quality.

:: Marks & Spencer have an equally delicious own label Provencal pink in the curvaceous shape of Coteaux Varois en Provence Rose 2015, France (£8.50, Marks & Spencer). Fresh, dry and fruity, with red berry aromas, refined flavours of strawberries and white fruit with a delicate and lively finish.

:: If you're in the mood to double the pleasure, M&S are stocking Miravel Rose 2015, Cotes de Provence (£38, 150cl, www.marksandspencer.com) in magnum form - worth getting your hands on before it sells out. Especially if you haven't tasted the Jolie-Pitt's rose yet, which is silky and elegant with summer berries, ripe tangerine and herb flavours that show some power on the long, luxurious finish.

:: A pretty pale pink, La Vieille Ferme Rose 2015, Southern Rhone, France (£6.99, The Co-operative) is also made by the Perrin family of winemakers who produce Miravel. Beautiful and bright, it has subtle notes of wild strawberries and citrus notes with raspberry and dried cherry fruits and an appealing tangy finish.

:: With its beguiling sunset colour, Pillastro Rosato 2015, Puglia, Italy (£7.99 from £9.49 during June, www.laithwaites.co.uk) is a brilliant effort from this award-winning producer. Their first rose vintage, it's fresh and vibrant with cherry and raspberry fruits, some citrus accents and spice on the juicy finish.

:: A delicious interpretation from the oldest winery in Italy, you can't go wrong with a bottle of Barone Ricasoli Albia Rose 2015, Tuscany, Italy (£9.99, robertsandspeight.co.uk). A fragrant coral pink with nuances of blackberries and raspberries on the nose, it's well structured with cherry tart, plums and strawberries, supported by good minerality on the crisp finish.

:: Available by the case and an exciting new addition to their own label range to meet the demand for Provencal rose, Berry Bros & Rudd Provence Rose, France (£161.70, case of 6, www.bbr.com) is a pale coral pink that's pretty enough to turn heads. Produced for them by Chateau Mascaronne, there's a citrusy twist to the wild berry flavours, peach and spice with fennel and herbs, and crisp acidity on the savoury finish.

BEST BUY

Full steam ahead... At the recent Indie Beer Can Festival - a celebration of the newest trend in craft beer - Redwell Brewery's Steam Lager (£18, 6 pack, 4.6% abv, www.redwellbrewing.com) won the Best Design Award. A California common style beer (aka steam beer) with "spiced cake aromas and flavours, it has the charm of an amber ale with the cleanliness and sprightliness of a lager".

LIQUID NEWS

Something to please everyone... Lidl launches its second Wine Cellar Promotion this week (June 2), with a range of wines from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Spain.

With the UK sparkling wine category having grown 15.39% year-on-year, Lidl's new collection places an emphasis on sparkling varieties with six bottles on offer, including Bissinger Rose Champagne, France (£15.99, Lidl).

All the wines offer fantastic value for money and have been scored out of 100, with no wines scoring below 80 in the collection. Prices start at £4.99, going up to £15.99 for the Bissinger Rose.

Four other top picks chosen by Richard Bampfield, consultant Master of Wine at Lidl, include Cotes de Gascogne Le Heron, France, £5.99, Barbera d'Asti Superiore, Italy, £5.99, Clairette de Die, France, £6.99 and Suditrol Gruner Veltliner, Italy, £7.49.