Apparently, Rosé wine is becomng a popular choice for people buying wines from the local supermarket. Market analysts Nielsen report that sales of rosé are up 15 per cent, giving it a record 11 per cent share of all wine bought in supermarkets and off-licences (Daily Mail, 13th October 2009).
Of course, Rosé is a great choice for Valentine's Day (February 14th), so here's a selection of some of the best and reasonably priced:
2008 VILLA MARIA PRIVATE BIN ROSÉ
£7.99 Waitrose, Tesco*
A fragrant bouquet of fresh rose petals, confectionary-strawberry and guava notes dominate the nose. The ideal accompaniment to smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis, prawn cocktail, asparagus and ricotta tarts or falafels.
2008 CUNE ROSADO
£7.99 Majestic*
Attractive light raspberry pink in colour. Full of ripe summer fruit and berry aromas with some floral hints. A light and refreshing mouth feel followed by a good length and complex finish. Ideal as an aperitif or with smoked fish such as salmon or trout.
2008 LOUIS JADOT BEAUJOLAIS ROSÉ
£8.99 Waitrose, independent wine merchants*
A crisp, fresh, deliciously fruity rosé with light raspberry and vanilla characters. This Beaujolais Rosé can be drunk chilled as an aperitif, or is a good match to salads and cold meats.
2009 LOURENSFORD THE RIVER GARDEN ROSÉ
Part of a bundle with VM Rose £15 for the two, Ocado*
Clean, bright, crisp and well-balanced with fresh red fruit, such as strawberries, guava and watermelon characters. Ideal with salads and pasta.
…Or how about a bottle of beer..!
Try something sparkling from the speciality beer section in the supermarket. Kasteel Cru and Kasteel Cru Rosé are both exciting and elegant for the occasion.
KASTEEL CRU ROSÉ (5%abv) 330ml, Alsace
£1.89 from selected Morrison's stores
This is a pretty salmon pink bière blonde from Alsace made with sparkling wine yeasts from vineyards in northern France, and historic ingredients for its stylishly revolutionary tint. Served ice-cold in a flute, it goes beautifully with poached salmon or roasted butternut squash. For contrasting flavours, drink with some big fat black olives.
KASTEEL CRU (5.2%abv) 330ml, Alsace From £1.99 Waitrose, Sainsbury's,
Morrison's , Ocado
This sparkling bière brut is a revolutionary lager from Alsace with deliciously subtle off-dry flavours. Serve ice-cold in a flute alongside sweet and creamy cheese straws, fresh oysters and soda bread, prawns with mayonnaise, quail's eggs or tempura vegetables.
