Fancy a drink? Our drinks columnist Sam Wylie-Harris uncorks some dry roses to reacquaint ourselves with the essence of summer.

 

Roses to make your mouth water

Fashionable, frivolous and fun, a good rose can leave a lasting impression and certainly hits the right note when the sun comes out.

Once a summer speciality, wine buffs are increasingly making room for a pretty palette of pinks and it's about this time of year that the new vintages are released.

Like a delicate chocolate truffle, rose wines have a short shelf life and should be enjoyed in their youth for maximum freshness.

And with last year's models coming into their prime, here are some favourites to grace the table.

There's no doubting that the Mediterranean is the spiritual home of rose, and the South of France produces some of the best.

Some 80% of the region's wine production is devoted to these patio pinks, and Sainsbury's makes a good entry-level style shaped in a typical Provencal 'corset' bottle.

Characteristically pale, try Taste the Difference Sainsbury's Cotes de Provence Rose 2012, France (£7.99, Sainsbury's) for a good introduction. Crisp and minerally with lots of melon and apricot flavours, it's the perfect partner with grilled fish and the high acidity will stand up to a classic tomato and onion salad.

For a summer investment, Sacha Lichine's bottles from Chateau D'Esclans rank among the highest quality - and most expensive - roses in the world.

However, if you can't afford the glitz and glamour of a Riviera lifestyle, Lichine produces a keenly priced rose that's available by bottle and case.

Sacha Lichine Single Blend Rose, Vin de France 2012, France (Case of 12, £117; 75cl bottle, £9.75, www.fromvineyardsdirect.com) tastes more like a fine wine than a casual drinker, with lush berry and cherry flavours, a silky, creamy mouthfeel and real depth of flavour on the elegant, minerally finish.

Soft and sensual, AOC Cotes de Provence, Domaine Sainte Lucie, Made in Provence Classic Rose 2012, France (£11.50, www.leaandsandeman.co.uk) is the prettiest blush with a fragrant nose of strawberries and apple orchards, ripe fruits and a hint of almond on the crisp finish.

A delicate wash of pale peach, Chateau Leoube Rose 2012, France (£13.99, www.ocado.com) has a very appealing minimalist label and the wine speaks for itself. From the award-winning organic French winery owned by the founders of Daylesford Organic, exotic stone fruits frame a grapefruit core and the refreshing acidity signals seafood dishes and salad nicoise.

Elsewhere, the scenic mountainous island of Corsica produces blushing beauties such as this little gem under The Wine Society's own label - The Society's Corsican Rose 2012, Corsica (£8.95, www.thewinesociety.com). A gorgeous salmon pink, it's a bone-dry rose with good concentration of crisp berry fruits and you can really taste the influence of the vegetation. So refreshing, it will add a splash of colour to the greyest of days.

With its passion for winemaking and alfresco lifestyle, Italy's leafy courtyards are brimming with pretty pink bottles nestling in ice buckets.

From the deep south, A Mano Rosato 2012, Puglia, Italy (£7.73, www.thedrinkshop.com) is a convivial easy drinker that's breezy and zippy with flavours of raspberry, strawberry and ripe cherry pie, as well as good acidity and a juicy, fruity finish for a happy union.

Alternatively, for an exotic Chilean twist to your alfresco rose, try Casillero Del Diablo Shiraz Rose 2012, Chile (£7.99, Morrisons). A bright lollipop pink, it's bursting with the summery taste of raspberries, strawberries and the merest hint of spice.

The perfect accompaniment for grilled meat, seafood and salad, it's definitely one to bring to out at the BBQ. Just remember to serve well chilled to enjoy the crisp finish - and fingers crossed for a shimmering blue sky.


:: Best buy

Cocktails to go... With its blend of eight botanicals, spicy aromas and rounded juniper notes, Greenall's Original London Dry Gin lends itself to a time-honoured gin and tonic and is now available in a pre-mixed cocktail range.

Party drinks include Gin Fizz, Gin Sin, Gin and Pink Grapefruit, Gin and Bitter Lemon, and Gin and Diet Tonic (from £1.85 per can, 25ml, 6.5% abv, major supermarkets), and they're slim enough to pop in your picnic basket.


:: Liquid news

A vine idea... England's sparkling wine has established itself as a firm favourite across the countryside, but the rolling Sussex Downs will soon be home to an English riesling.

A white grape that's native to Germany, Rathfinny Estate, near Alfriston, will be releasing a riesling under the name Cradle Valley in spring 2014.

England's newest vineyard, Rathfinny planted 50 acres of vines in 2012, with a further 50 acres for 2013, making it the largest planting to take place this year.

Along with its still wines, the estate plans to release the first Rathfinny sparkling wine in 2017, having spent the minimum of three years bottle ageing.

For more information, visit www.rathfinnyestate.com