Look out for the Taste Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
Under $20
Two Rivers 2017 Isle of Beauty Rosé, Marlborough $19.99
Provencal-style rosé with delicious citrus fruit, raspberry, subtle violet flavours and an ethereal texture. The wine is dry with a lingering finish.
Church Road 2017 Rosé, Hawke’s Bay $19.95
A blend of merlot and syrah with the flavour of fresh summer fruits and a hint of red rose. Subtle sweetness helps to soften the texture and amplify flavours.
Stoneleigh 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé, Marlborough $17.29
Pretty pale pink, delicate, medium/dry rosé with strawberries and cream flavours and an ethereal texture. Charming wine that should be served well chilled.
Villa Maria 2017 Cellar Selection Pinot Noir Rosé, Marlborough $17.99
Aromatic, fruity rosé with cherry, strawberry and subtle spicy flavours. A suggestion of sweetness is balanced by fresh acidity to give a dry-ish finish. A charmer.
$20 and over
Misha’s Vineyard 2017 The Soloist Rosé, Central Otago $27.95
Dry rosé with appealing cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavours. The wine has appealing purity and a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness that helps to build an appealing tension.
Mud House 2017 Burleigh Pinot Rosé, Marlborough $20
Delicately scented rosé with a pale colour and ethereal texture. An appealing wine with subtle summer fruits flavours and a lingering finish.
The Doctors’ 2017 Rosé, Marlborough $22
Low-alcohol rosé with pretty strawberry, peaches and cream and watermelon flavours. The wine has appealing purity and a great balance of subtle sweetness with fruity acidity.
Postage Stamp 2016 Genevieve Rosé, Waiheke $24.95
Deliciously fresh and flavoursome rosé made from 100 per cent syrah. Silken-textured wine with rose petal, strawberry, cherry and subtle fresh herb flavours.
About New Zealand rosé styles:
Pinot noir tends to produce delicate and often lively wines with bright strawberry and cherry flavours. Some are slightly sweet to balance fresh acidity but good rosé should never be obviously sweet and cloying. Wines made from one or several of the Bordeaux grape varieties (merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, malbec and petit verdot) tend to be more flavoursome and gutsier with plum and red berry characters.
