Everyone loves sparkling and everyone loves rosé, so it’s a bit of a mystery why sparkling rosé isn't more popular. Food friendly, full of flavour, and seriously fun, it’s a surprisingly versatile style that should be celebrated, rather than relegated.
How is sparkling rosé made?
Unlike still wines, where the difference between white and rosé is usually in the grape varieties used, sparkling is a little more complicated. As both white and rosé sparkling wines are made from the same two or three grape varieties – chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier – the difference between the two styles boils down to how much colour the winemaker chooses to extract from the red grapes.
Whereas, for white sparkling wine, the red grapes are pressed before the skins have imparted any colour to the juice, the sparkling rosé winemaker may allow the skins to macerate until the desired amount of colour and flavour has leeched out of them.
Another method the winemaker may choose is to add red wine to the blend, either before the wine undergoes its secondary ferment in bottle (which is where bubbles are created), or after the wine has been disgorged.
While the processes for white and rosé sparkling are similar, a touch more complexity in the latter is why sparkling rosé often commands a higher price point.
When should I drink sparkling rosé?
Sparkling rosé can be enjoyed, well-chilled, on its own, as an aperitif, or to celebrate with – just like non-rosé sparkling. But where it really comes into its own is alongside food. It's becoming particularly popular to serve sparkling rosé at the end of a meal, due to its palate-cleansing qualities and that it drinks well with desserts and cheese.
Best Australian sparkling rosé
Unsurprisingly, the finest examples of sparkling rosé come from Tasmania. House of Arras, Bellebonne, Apogee and Delamere all produce delicious pink fizz, as does Josef Chromy and Henskens Rankin. Lapping at its heels are the Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills regions, thanks to names like Chandon and Terre à Terre. But, as you’ll see from the below list, there’s quality sparkling rosé being produced across the country.
Here are 15 to try.
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