There's nothing like an English rosé...
let’s drink pink
The sun is shining – and for some reason, it just feels right to drink rosé! According to Waitrose, when temperatures in the UK hit 20°C rosé sales increase by 150% compared to baseline levels. April – September sees 79% of all rosé sales in the UK. While we love a winter rosé too, rosé wine has become synonymous with sunshine, alfresco dining and celebrating summer – and we don’t need any extra excuses!
We have three delicious rosés in our portfolio at Wiston – two sparkling and a still wine, and they are all made in different ways. Two sparkling wines – a non-vintage and a vintage, and a still wine. It was only when we opened Chalk restaurant that we asked our winemaker Marcus Rayner-Ward if he could make a still rosé. He took on the challenge and Fifty Summers was created.
fifty summers rosé
This wine is called ‘Fifty Summers’ because its inaugural vintage was 2022 – Pip and Harry Goring’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. Pip is the inspiration behind vineyards at Wiston, so it’s thanks to her that we have any wine at all! (See Our Story for more information about the origins of Wiston’s wines). The current vintage is made from Pinot Noir Précoce grapes from one of our partner vineyards in West Sussex, and a portion of Wiston Pinot Meunier. The grapes were gently pressed in our winery – the colour coming from contact with the skins in the press (no blending of red and white takes place with still wines). Once pressed the juice was then fermented at a cool 15°C in stainless steel tanks which helps preserve the delicate aromas and flavours. It was bottled in February, and released a couple of months later – making it our ‘fastest’ rosé from picking to drinking.
It is a delicious combination of juicy cherries, red currants and hints of peach blossom and white pepper. It makes an excellent aperitif – would go really well with something like barbecued shellfish or fresh goats cheese. You can purchase it online here.
rosé nv
Next up is our Wiston Rosé NV – a traditional method sparkling wine. This wine was recently named ‘Sparkling Wine of the Year’ at the Sommelier Wine Awards – judged by some of the UK’s most prestigious palates! It was also named as the best English wine to drink with sushi… “Wiston’s NV Rosé took the sushi prize home, effortlessy…” wrote Tamlyn Currin on Jancisrobinson.com. “English sparkling rosé, bursting with ripe, juicy fruit at the same time as it offers crystal-cut acidity and the staccato of bubbles, actually works out extremely well.”
Tamlyn wrote a beautiful tasting note for this wine… “So evocative of the ever-so-English strawberries and cream. You could serve this in a bowl and spoon it into your mouth! It’s dripping with rosy red juice and fragrance; almost indecently creamy. The fruit is sweet and plump. It’s all about the moment. It’s joyous. A little showy, a little sweet, a little candied, a little glam, a little fun. Pink ties, kitten heels, feathers. It will go with whatever canapé (or handful of crisps) you throw at it. If I was planning a summer wedding in the garden, I’d buy this wine by the bucketful.”
It has lovely fresh fruit and floral notes you get a hint of freshly baked Victoria sponge, a hint of sherbet and ground almonds. A simply perfect summer aperitif – it pairs well with charcuterie, hard cheeses, and also seafood – such as fritto misto… You can buy it online here. Also available in MAGNUM!
vintage rosé
Our Vintage Rosé – which all comes from the 2018 harvest, and is also made in the traditional method – is an opulent option for a sultry summer’s evening. Made from only Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (with a portion made as red wine and blended in at bottling), and fermented in old oak barrels, and with four years ageing in bottle – this wine is rich and complex. Tamlyn Currin sums up this wine so beautifully in her latest review… “Dark pink, Picasso pink. I love the vaudeville opulence of the Wiston rosés. I love their extravagant fruit. I love the way that Wiston is not afraid of richness and ripeness. I love the way that this wine swirls and sweeps like an opera diva ascending a grand staircase, silk and velvet rippling and cascading and shimmering like a train. I love that it tastes of tiny Alpine strawberries, of quince and pears poached in cherry syrup. Bold, sensuous, and almost, almost brash, in the most delicious way …” From Jancisrobinson.com.
It is robust enough to work well with foods such as smoked fish or game, or would make a delicious companion to a barbecue medley. You can buy the wine online here.
