Rosé Road Trip

Provence may be the reigning heavyweight in the ring of rosé — no arguing that — but there are so many more incredible bottles of the pink stuff out there. This six-pack is your ticket to a full-on, tableside tour of the best rosé regions, from California to the Loire Valley, and (of course) Provence. These wines don’t just go with everything, they make everything better. Think of them as that travel companion who’s down for everything. Pizza? Definitely. Oysters? For sure. Grilling out back as the sun sets after a long day? You can bet on it.

• 1 x Matthiasson Rose 2020

• 1 x Les Pallieres Gigondas Rose La Petit Bonheur 2020 

• 1 x Breton Bourgueil Rose Sec La Ritournelle 2020 

• 1 x Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cotes de Provence Rose 2020 

• 1 x Sesti Rosato 2020 

• 1 x Leccia Patrimonio Rose 2020 

There are only a few vignerons in the small fishing town of Cassis who are fortunate to produce certified wine of this appellation & Clos Sainte Magdeleine is one of them. This wine is produced in very limited quantities. The grapes are sourced from a vineyard site located roughly between Cassis and Bandol. It is crisp with notes of wild strawberries & terrific acidity.

Make sure to take a photo of this bottle--otherwise, after drinking it, you’ll constantly be asking yourself, “What WAS that?” What it is: a gorgeous little Cabernet-Franc-based rosé from winemaker Kevin Fontaine. Like strawberry lemonade became a very delicious savory wine. Pair with sunshine and a smile.

Find yourself searching for some extra depth and complexity in your rosé? Why not look to Brunello for the answer. An astronomer by trade, Guiseppe Sesti found his calling crafting unbelievable expressions of Sangiovese. His rosato is no different. Deep, dark, and fresh, try it with roast pork.

In the world of upper echelon rosé, there is no question. Bandol is king. This seaside Provençal village, known for its particularly moving expressions of Mourvèdre, gives us one of the most serious, complex renditions of rosé in the world. Gros Noré's iteration is among the best, with a perfect balance between body and acidity.

All of the fruit in this wine comes from a single vineyard at Hauts Baigneaux. It’s name? “La Surprise.” Made from 70% Grolleau grapes, which are typically made into rosé wines, this bottle begs for a hot summer day, or at sun at whatever temp. Chill on the porch or cart it to a picnic — this one shines bright.

Raphaël Saint-Cyr recently inherited his family's estate and immediately began the conversion to organic–making him the largest certified organic domaine in the Beaujolais. His wines emphasize simplicity, elegance, and drinkability–perfect for the quenching of summertime thirsts. Raphaël's Beaujolais Rosé was lithe, characterful, and frankly downright stunning for the price. It was a huge hit as well with classic cookout fare.

Sometimes we forget that wine started as a means of preservation. If done well, it has captured a moment in time. While it’s far too easy to wax poetically on the summer moments this has bottled, these memories are yours. Reminisce on forgotten summer evenings, and dream up new ones.

Catherine and Pierre Breton set out to make a Cabernet Franc rosé that is as natural as can be. Ritournelle is the result. The wine is crisp and refreshing. It’s like drinking a tall glass of strawberry lemonade spiked with fresh herbs. Pair it with herb-marinated grilled chicken.

At the turn of the century, Kermit Lynch and Daniel Brunier (of Vieux Télégraphe) joined forces to revive one of the greatest, oldest winemaking properties of the Southern Rhône: Domaine Les Pallières. Their rosé is super juicy, with layers of fresh strawberry and raspberry, rose, and wet stone that roll in, sweep out, and roll in again like ocean waves.

There are only a few vignerons in the small fishing town of Cassis who are fortunate to produce certified wine of this appellation & Clos Sainte Magdeleine is one of them. Producing in very limited quantities, his rosé is just the best. This bottle is crisp with notes of wild strawberries & terrific acidity.

Over 50 years ago, in rural North Dakota, Joseph Swan made his first ever ‘wine’ out of wild rhubarb, using his mother’s laundry press. Fast-forward to today, and his daughter Lynn has now taken the helm at their humble winery in Sonoma. This syrah rosé is bold and peppery, and stands up well to a summer meal of BBQ chicken.

Yves’ Patrimonio Rosé is always both a customer and staff favorite year in and year out. A blend of native Corsican varieties that Yves himself helped to replant and preserve–Nielluciu & Sciacarellu to be specific–it is the perfect example of a wine that expresses considerable profundity without sacrificing what makes rosé so desirable in the first place–refreshment and sheer pleasure. 

Look at that color! This charming rosé opens up with alluring notes of ripe raspberry, rose petal, and white pepper. On the palate, it is light and refreshing yet no simple porch pounder. Look for a certain degree of stony minerality and grip backing up its elegant Saint Laurent fruit. It may be a large bottle, but it empties quickly.

Winemaker Yves Canarelli aims to bring the world a taste of Corsica, and this rosé does the job tremendously. By fermenting whole-cluster native Corsican Sciaccarellu and Nielluciu grapes and just a bit of Grenache, this bottle has amazing structure, minerality, and depth. One of the best rosés out there!

Located in the countryside of St. Remy de Provence, the town where Van Gogh painted “Starry Night,” Domaine Hauvette is home to 17 acres of vines, all organically farmed to produce minimal-intervention wines. This wine is everything you could hope for in a Provencal rose: notes of flowers, almonds, and crisp minerals make this a winner.

Coming from the oldest estate on Mount Brouilly, this rosé of Gamay is year after year a celebrated favorite by the Dedalus staff. The playful attitude of Gamay in harmony with the ancient volcanic soils of this region make for a joyful experience for those who reach for this bottle.

Is this the most fun you can have drinking natural wine? It is certainly the most fun Rhone valley rosé we've come across. Clos des Mourres Pompette is a neon fruit-salad of a wine. It is a ripe, juicy blast of muddled raspberry, split red cherry, orange slices, gardenia, and rosemary.

Maxime Magnon is a first-generation winemaker who cares about preserving old, natural winemaking techniques. Studying under Jean Foillard before settling in Corbières, he gained knowledge and skill that has led him to tremendous success. Ripe fruit and playful texture make this rosè a total knockout.

Dolores Cabrera Fernández, the veritable queen of funk, crafts seriously interesting wine using her century-plus old Listan Negro vines. In her gulpable Rosado, campfire smoke-laden minerality and wet earth surround a solid core of sun-baked berries. Unique, very approachable, very delicious.

Learn more about Dolores Cabrera Fernandez' incredible island, and others like it, on our blog.

A blend of indigenous Nielluciu, Sciaccarellu, and non native Grenache that is as refreshing as the breezy island vineyard it comes from. This energetic Corsican rosé delivers notes of jicama, white cherry, and lively island herbs. This wine would be great on its own, or with pan seared white fish on good toast with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and lemon.

Corsica, Sicily, the Canary Islands — don't stop at one island wine. Try them all. Check out our blog to learn more.