An Incredible Evening Tasting British Rosé Wines

Recently (26th June, 2021), I invited some of my wine loving friends around to taste a variety of British Rosé wines to celebrate both English and Welsh Wine Weeks. It proved to be such an incredible evening talking about the different wines, pairing them with delicious foods and learning about the terroir and grape varieties involved in creating these wines.

This was the first Vigneview wine tasting that I’ve planned and led. I did warn my friends that if I started to ‘geek-out’ too much on wine and/or viticulture, then it was their job to reel me in. Thankfully, the evening turned out to be a huge success and I didn’t go off on any random tangents (phew!!). The next morning I received several messages from my friends asking when the next tasting would be. Wow! I better get in gear and start planning the next tasting!

THE VIGNEVIEW WINE SELECTION PROCESS

After what seemed to be an impossible task, I selected five still English rosés and one from Wales. I was actually surprised with the incredible variety of still British rosés that are on offer in this country. In order for a wine to “make the cut”, I relied on the Vigneview’s five V’s to guide me;

1. Value
2. Variables
3. Versatility
4. Viewpoints
5. Verdict

VALUE

The first question I ask myself when choosing wine is, “Am I getting the best quality wine I possibly can for the most reasonable price?” British wines are not always budget friendly and as a result, this wine selection was a bit more challenging. However, after shopping around, I set myself a target to stay under £20 a bottle.

You may be wondering why British wines are so expensive, as they are grown practically on our doorstep. One of the main reasons contributing to the high price tag is that growing grapes in the UK’s cooler climate is challenging and expensive. Additionally, as the lower half of the UK is located at 51 degrees latitude north, this is just one degree above the ideal 30-50 degrees latitude north range for growing vitis vinifera grapes. Even though it’s only out of ‘The Zone’ by one degree, the UK’s climate can prove to be rather unpredictable for growing grapes. Additionally, most of the vitis vinifera grape varieties grown in the UK are highly susceptible to diseases due to the damp, cool climate conditions and therefore vineyard owners need to invest a lot of time, money and hard work into managing and maintaining the vines and so they can produce the best quality grapes. All of these factors contribute to the additional costs involved in the process of growing grapes in the UK and producing top quality wines. My goal for the wines I selected was to stay under £20 a bottle. To my surprise, I was able to do this and discovered some very reasonably priced British rosé wines.

VARIABLES

The second factor I consider when choosing a wine is to determine which characteristics and complexities I’m looking for. I begin by asking myself some questions to narrow down my options.

• Purpose: What occasion is my wine for?
• Style: What style of wine am I after…still, sparkling, dessert or fortified?
• Colour: Am I looking for a specific wine colour?
• Structure: What level of sugar, alcohol, tannins, acidity and body of wine do I want?
• Aromas/Flavours: What particular aromas and flavours do I wish to have? How pronounced should they be?
• Grape variety: What type of grape(s) will best meet my purpose?
• Terroir: Is there a particular terroir that is known for producing exceptional grapes?
• Viticulture: Am I after a sustainable, organic, biodynamic or natural wine?
• Winemaking: Is there a particular winemaking method I’m after? Oak ageing, lees contact, low-intervention etc…
• Dietary: Do I need wine that’s vegan, low alcohol, low sugar or sulphate-free?
• Vintage: Finally, is there a certain vintage that stood out as having produced extraordinary grapes, jam-packed with varietal complexities?

Wow! That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to considering all the variables involved in choosing a wine. When I selected the rosé wines for this particular tasting, I searched for wines that included a range of complexities, structural components, grape varieties, British terroirs, winemaking techniques, vintages and viticultural practices. My overall goal was to provide my guests with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of what British wines can offer. Comparing and contrasting wines from a similar region, is a great way to learn about various grape varieties and how they express themselves under different growing conditions. The wines I selected were single varietal as well as blends. Some of the blends were well-known, reliable varietal combinations while others were quite intriguing cuvées involving lesser known grape varieties.

VERSATILITY

The third factor influencing my wine choices is the suitability of a wine for a particular occasion. For this particular tasting, I wanted to choose British rosés that pair well with a variety of foods as well as being great stand-alone, easy drinking wines.

To help me pair my British rosé wines with some incredible British cheeses, I sought out the expertise of Sarah Moore who owns The Micro Cheesemonger (@themicrocheesemonger) and can be found weekly at the Ally Pally Farmer’s Market . Thankfully, Sarah came to my rescue and selected three incredible cheeses. She even went over and above the call of duty by hand delivering one of the cheeses to me after my morning swim at our local lido. Now that’s incredible service…a poolside cheesemonger!!! Thanks so much, Sarah!

In addition to the cheeses, I prepared some fennel-infused salami, smoked salmon with a honey Dijon mustard sauce, rainbow roasted sweet pepper antipasto and various other hors d’oeuvres to savour alongside these incredible wines. My good friend Roanna (@bakingbyro) baked two beautiful organic rye and honey sourdough loaves to support all these tasty morsels.

VIEWPOINTS

The fourth factor influencing my wine choices is to compare, contrast and consider any reviews, ratings and accolades a wine may have received. Some people disregard wine reviews and awards; however, I honestly believe that these provide a great benchmark for choosing a wine. Wine is art; open to varying degrees of interpretation and appreciation. These insights provide further opportunities to explore, understand and enjoy a wine.

VERDICT

I’m often a very indecisive person and arriving at a definitive decision is something I really struggle with, especially where wine is concerned. However, once I’ve considered all of the previous criteria, I have to make a wine choice. It’s tough, but it’s got to be done! Check out my wine verdicts below.