Rosé spans the colours that sit between white and red wine. From pale salmon to vibrant and deep reds, the rosé colour is created when the wine comes into contact with the skins from red varietals (like pinot noir, sangiovese, grenache, aglianico, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz to name a few). Rosé wines are produced after being stained by red pigment for a short period of time – usually only hours.
Almost any red grape can be used to make rosé and there are three methods – saignée, maceration or blending – typically used to produce the wine.
Below we get to know six styles of Australia rosé from Medhurst, Clarnette Wines, Wirra Wirra Vineyards, Turkey Flat, Andrew Buller Wines, Denton, David Franz and First Ridge. Priced between $27–36, each of these rosé wines deserves a place on your table this summer.
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rosé wines to try
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Medhurst
Estate Vineyard Rosé 2025
Yarra ValleyA blend of cabernet sauvignon/shiraz. This was a deserved trophy winner at this year's Yarra Valley Wine Show (and for the third time since 2020, if you don't mind!). A bright, pale salmon. A complex amalgam of summer berries, pink grapefruit, white flowers and provençal herbs. Just as good on the medium-bodied, chalk inflected and beautifully balanced palate. A really good wine. -
Clarnette Wines
Rosé 2024
GrampiansWhere cabernet was the principal grape in the '23 rosé, sangiovese now takes its place with a few splashes of riesling and nebbiolo. Delivers the right mix of fresh summer cherry fruit and savouriness. Copper-pink hues. Inviting scents of cherry, redcurrant, spring florals, balsamic and earth. While crisp, succinct and dry, partial barrel fermentation has broadened the mid-palate bandwidth with a supple texture, allowing flavours to run long and smooth with a savoury finish. With or without food, it's a winner. -
Wirra Wirra Vineyards
Dry Grenache Rosé 2025
McLaren ValeFrom four sites. Cool ferment. The colour is a pristine rose gold, the aromatics à point, with this harmonious from the get-go. Strawberry, cranberry, blood orange, cinnamon, rose, a little musk and sumac. The palate is textural, meaning it can take the deep chill that rosé is often subjected to, but it also makes it a fine companion at table when it warms a bit. There’s a juicy succulence to this, acidity and fruit in perfect accord. Very good indeed. -
Turkey Flat
Rosé 2025
Barossa ValleyThis would have to be one of the front-runners for the most loved and recognisable rosés in Australia, amiright? Fruit characters of raspberry, redcurrant and ruby-red grapefruit with a cheeky splash of cranberry and watermelon for good measure. Some strawberry, too, on the palate, plus citrus zest, just a hint of spice and wildflower top notes. Dry, slinky and dangerously drinkable; it sure is easy to see why this is such a crowd favourite. -
Andrew Buller Wines
Cannobie Sparkling Rosé Cuvée Non Vintage
Sparkling | Rutherglen12 months on lees. Cabernet franc is an unusual and creative choice for a sparkling rosé. It works super well here. Pretty tea rose hues open to a lifted fragrance of freshly baked pastry, cherry, strawberry, raspberry and florals. A finely beaded sparkling that exudes bright red fruits, with a gentle autolysis complexity of almond macaroon and biscuit. It's smoothly arranged and moves with a brisk acidity. -
Denton
Rosé 2025
Yarra ValleyMade from equal parts nebbiolo/syrah/cabernet. A deep-ish, bright salmon. Richly fruited aromas of red fruits, poached pears, blood orange and spice. The gently textured palate is jam packed with fruit. Finishes with a touch of grip on the long, flavoursome finish. -
David Franz
Pink Bits 2024
Barossa ValleyA rosé blend of James Lindner's Seppeltsfield Black Muscat and Cheree and Jim Boehm's Light Pass White Frontignac. This has a colour akin to a watered-down Ribena and inviting characters of raspberry, strawberry and redcurrant, with those heady muscat vibes back in the mix. Hints of Turkish delight, rose petals, crushed stone, dried citrus rind, watermelon and wildflowers. Dry and slinking with a compelling array of flavours that mimic the palate; this is great, fun drinking. -
First Ridge
Rosé 2025
MudgeeMusk strawberries, Asian melon and shavings of strawberry ice. Some blood orange citrus. This is elegant, with a subtle nod to the Japanese strawberry cream sandwich. It's fragile but fruity, thirst quenching and lithe. This could complement clams to sashimi, Thai salads to baked snapper. Delightfully moreish.
Top image credit: Wirra Wirra
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