Celebrating New Zealand Rosé Day with our favourite rosés

February 02, 2021
Celebrating New Zealand Rosé Day with our favourite rosés

So you can kick off Waitangi weekend in pretty pink style, we've rounded up some of our favourites for New Zealand Rosé day this February 5th. 

New Zealand Rosé Day celebrates this perfect summer wine on the 5th of February. And what a wine to celebrate. We love the petal hue, the way it tastes like juicy, creamy strawberries and smells like flowers, spices or stone fruit. We love the way rosé balances a delicate bouquet with strength of flavour and zesty acidity. 

Traditionally, rosé is a wine that incorporates some of the color from the grape skins, but not so much colour to qualify it as a red wine. That in-between status not only gives rosé its colour, but its balance of red wine boldness and tannins with white wine acidity and juice. All that balance goes a long way, so we've picked out a collection of foods that make the salmon-coloured beverage sing.

Click here to view that collection of dishes that go perfectly with rosé, but which wines are we sipping this summer? Scroll down for a list of our favourites...


Babydoll Rosé Marlborough 2020

This pretty light-peach coloured Rosé has the most enticing bouquet of red apple, cherry, watermelon, fresh strawberries and honeydew. The palate boasts a juicy, rich palate warmed with flavours of strawberry shortcake, and is focused by well-balanced acidity.

@babydollwines
babydollwines.co.nz


Grove Mill Rosé

Bright and textural, Grove Mill Rosé has aromas of elegant red fruits and creaming soda. A moreish palate of raspberries, cranberries and delicate savoury flavours is a perfect match for salmon dishes of all sorts, cheese platters, or simply a summer’s afternoon.

@grovemillwinery
grovemill.co.nz


Hãhã Wine 2020 Hawke's Bay Rosé

A mix of Merlot and Malbec with smaller components of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this wine is beautifully fragrant with notes of watermelon, strawberry and lifted florals. Bursting with red fruit flavours and a hint of spice, this is an elegant Rosé with a lingering crisp, dry finish.

@hahawine
hahawine.co.nz


Leveret Estate Hawkes Bay Rosé

Lifted red fruits, with white flowers and hints of spice. The palate has a lovely fresh texture, strawberries and cream flavours, gentle acidity, and a long dry finish. Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2019.

@leveretestate
leveretestatewine.com


Nautilus Vintage Rosé 2017

First made in 2011, Nautilus Vintage Rosé is amongst the finest methodes in New Zealand. Made in the ‘traditional method’ of sparkling winemaking as used in Champagne, and made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Subtle red berry fruits flavours with a seasoning of nutty yeast lees character. The wine has an ethereal texture and lengthy finish.

@nautilusestate
nautilusestate.com


No.1 Family Estate Méthode Traditionelle Rosé

This No.1 Family Estate Méthode Traditionelle Rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir and celebrates the superb climate of Marlborough. A fresh, youthful and precise bouquet, delicate salmon-pink with a mass of tiny bubbles. Aromas of flowers, cherry and strawberries. Dry and elegant with a fine and silky mousse.

@no1familyestate
no1familyestate.co.nz


Opawa Pinot Noir Rose 2020

This wine is bright light salmon in colour with a charming and vivacious nose of ripe peaches, pomegranate and spices, leading into a mouth filling, smooth palate. The finish is fresh, clean and refreshing. Opawa Rosé is a dry wine that is a perfect aperitif or accompaniment to fresh summer cuisine.

@opawawine
opawawine.com


Jules Taylor OTQ Rosé

With abundant aromas of pomegranate, tamarillo and watermelon leaping out of the glass alongside notes of sherbet and mango. This soft peachy pink hue tastes of punchy berry fruit, red apple and nectarine flavours, supported by a creamy texture and supple, juicy acidity. This dry rosé is elegantly complex and culminates in a compelling, long dry finish.

@julestaylorwines
julestaylor.com


OTU Otuwhero Estate Hawkes Bay Rosé 2020

Lively, fragrant and luscious Hawkes Bay Rosé bursting with bright berry flavour. Bright cherry and luscious strawberries and cream delight the senses. For the 2020 vintage, OTU used Merlot grapes to make this Rosé because the grape delivers a broad spectrum of aromas and flavours – ranging from the classic strawberry to wonderful hints of red plum.

@otuwines
otuwine.com


Palliser Estate Rose 2020

Pretty and pristine on the nose, it’s a bed of rose petals and a punnet of strawberries, with crushed raspberry, shortbread and just a hint of dried Italian herbs. Crisp, dry and impressively weighty for such a fragrant and pretty wine, the mid-palate is full and rounded, a whisper of texture from the skins and vibrant acidity driving a long, mouth-watering finish.

@palliserwine
palliser.co.nz


Rapaura Springs Reserve Rose 2020

Vibrantly pink, with inviting aromas of strawberries and cream. Each glass is loaded with fresh summer berries and stone fruit, with a delightfully refreshing finish. Chill and enjoy!

@rapaurasprings
rapaurasprings.co.nz


RUA Pinot Rosé 2020

Wildly exotic floral bouquet of jasmine, lily, magnolia and rose, with ripe strawberries, watermelon and cardamom. The centre palate is creamy and concentrated with fine skin tannins and balancing bright and juicy acidity.

@akaruawines
akarua.com


Sacred Hill Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé

Pale strawberry in colour, Sacred Hill's Reserve Pinot Noir Rosé offers aromas of a summer fruit salad with papaya, watermelon and strawberries and cream. The palate is refined and lush displaying intense fruit flavours that lead to a moderate acidity giving a nice dry finish.

@sacredhillwines
sacredhill.com


Summerhouse Rosé 2020

This Rosé is elegant and bright with a gorgeous pink hue and aromas of luscious watermelon, raspberry and peach. Each glass is brimming with flavours of fresh red berries and delicious stone fruits.

@summerhousewine
summerhouse.co.nz


The Doctors' Rose

This Rosé hits you with an exciting explosion of flavour. Fresh strawberries and ripe red cherry, with just a hint of aromatic herbs like sage and thyme. The wine is so fresh, light and lively it practically dances its way across your palate to a crisp and dry finish. It’s like summer in a bottle.

@thedoctorswines
thedoctors.nz


The Landing Boathouse Rosé

The delicate dash of rose petal red comes from the sun-soaked red fruit across the vineyard. Completely dry with delicious flavours of rose water, lychees, white stone fruit and just a dash of strawberries and cream.

@thelandingnz
thelandingwine.co.nz


 

The Ned Rosé

A fragrant bouquet of rosewater, crunchy red apple and hints of wild raspberry precedes the seamless palate. Plush and creamy with an array of tangy berry flavours, this wine is refreshed and framed by crisp acid edges and the gentle brush of fine fruit tannin.

@marisco_wines
marisco.co.nz


Tiki Estate Pinot Noir Rosé

A bright, vibrant candyfloss pink, the Tiki Estate Waipara Pinot Noir Rosé is a beautiful wine with aromas of strawberries and confectionary with background notes of dark cherries and stone fruit making the wine instantly appealing. Ideal with fish and grilled salmon. 5 Stars, Wine Orbit.

@tikiwines
tiki-wine.myshopify.com


Wairau River Rosé

This wine exudes summer and fun in spades.  Made seriously for chilling down and drinking with friends (or not) this wine is juicy and fresh with a fine acid keeping it beautifully fresh and is the palest pink – superb with goats cheese or a watermelon, feta and mint salad!  Or just with good friends in the sun with your feet up kicking back enjoying summer!

@wairauriverwines
wairauriverwines.com


Yealands Reserve Rosé

This Rosé is brimming with aromas of red summer berries and fresh pomegranate alongside a juicy and fresh palate with hints of vanilla pod and strawberry shortcake. The wine is completed by a beautifully concentrated mouthfeel.

@yealands
yealands.co.nz


Zephyr MKI Organic Rosé

Voted NZ's Best Organic Rosé at the NZ Organic Wine Awards, 2020. With Strawberry leaf, watermelon and petals on the nose and crunchy, sour cherry jucidity on the palate, this vegan friendly, crisp bright-salmon coloured summer Rosé is perfect to sip on the porch with fresh sashimi.

@zephyrwines
zephyrwine.com