Rosé Wine

Balfour Brut Rosé is one of the most exclusive sparkling English wines currently available, and is on the wine list at glamorous London eateries such as The Ivy, Le Caprice and J Sheekey. Producer Richard Balfour-Lynn said that he was influenced by the success of New Zealand's Cloudy Bay and wanted to specialise, to make a fun sparkling wine that's young, fresh and ivory pink.

Fortunately for us Tesco now stocks this award winning sparkling rosé (and are currently offering free delivery with no minimum spend!).
View prices for Balfour Brut Rosé at Tesco.com.

South Ridge Cuvee Merret rosé is from the same estate that won the International Wine and Spirit Competition's World Wide Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine. The vineyard is in the South Downs which famously has the same combination of chalk and clay in the soil as the Champagne region. At least as good as Champagne but without the wine miles!

Available from Laithwaites.

Three Choirs vineyard, based in Gloucestershire, nurture well chosen modern varieties of grapes alongside more traditional world renowned grapes such as pinot noir. The Three Choirs Premium Selection Rosé is made from Pinot Noir, at Three Choirs the Pinot Noir is the last grape to be picked, as it needs to ripen to develop as much character as possible. It's an off-dry, delicate rosé, perfect for drinking in the English summer sun. Available directly from Three Choirs or from Waitrose.

www.three-choirs-shop.co.uk

Camel Valley Pinot Noir sparkling rosé is produced on a family owned vineyard in Cornwall. The 2003 vintage was a silver medal winner in the International Wine Challenge, and, according to producers, the 2004 vintage is even better! Rick Stein opened the new winery at Camel Valley in 1999 and now serves this rosé in his seafood restaurant. This wine also featured in the Top 100 rosé tasting at the London Wine & Spirits Trade Fair. Camel Valley wines are available directly from the vineyard.

www.camelvalley.com

The reputation of Chapel Down wines seems to grow each year. Many of their still and sparkling wines are award winners, and Chapel Down wines have been served at the House of Commons, several Government departments and at several overseas embassies. The Chapel Down Brut Rosé is a sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes left in contact with their skins for a limited period to obtain the gentle rose colour. Available from the vineyard, for £24.99 a bottle, or £149.94 for 6 bottles, or from the Chapel Down online shop for £134.95 inc VAT.