Moxie Vino

What is rosé wine?

Rosé is pink wine made from red grapes whose skins touch the juice for only a few hours, which gives it a light color and a fresh, strawberry-and-citrus taste somewhere between a white and a red.

Rosé is not red and white mixed together (with one fancy exception in Champagne). It is red grapes treated like white grapes, with just a quick dip on the skins for color. Most good rosé today is dry, which surprises people who grew up on White Zinfandel.

Tastes like
Strawberry, watermelon, citrus, a little herb
Common grapes
Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel
Price range
About $9 to $25
Serve at
Fridge cold, about 45°F
Drink it
Young; buy the most recent year
Bodylight → big
Sweetnessdry → sweet
Zingsoft → zippy

How rosé gets its color

Nearly all grape juice is clear. The color in red wine comes from the skins. For rosé, winemakers let the skins sit with the juice for a few hours to a couple of days, then pull them out.

Short contact gives that pale, onion-skin pink from Provence. Longer contact gives deeper, cherry-colored rosé with more flavor. Neither is better; it is just a style choice.

Dry vs sweet rosé on the shelf

Pale pink from France, Spain or Italy is almost always dry. Look for Provence, Côtes de Provence or "rosado" from Spain.

Bright pink American rosé labelled "White Zinfandel" or "Pink Moscato" is sweet. Alcohol under 11% is a strong hint. Both styles are fine; just know which one you are bringing home.

What to eat with rosé

Dry rosé is a fantastic all-rounder because it has the freshness of a white and a little of the fruit of a red. Try it with salmon, grilled chicken, charcuterie, Greek salad or a Thanksgiving table.

It is also one of the few wines that holds up to tomato, garlic and olive oil together, so pizza and Mediterranean food are easy wins.

How to serve it

Cold, like a white. And drink it young: rosé is made to be fresh, so a bottle from two summers ago may taste flat. Check the year on the label and pick the newest one.

Rosés worth buying

  • La Vieille Ferme Rosé

    about $9

    Grenache blendDrink this one

    The best cheap dry rosé, full stop. Crisp and berry-bright, with a chicken on the label.

  • Fleurs de Prairie Rosé

    about $15

    Grenache blendGood buy

    Pale, dry Provence style for well under $20. Looks great on a table and tastes like summer.

  • Whispering Angel Rosé

    about $23

    Grenache blendIt's fine

    The famous one. Delicate and polished, a great gift, though Fleurs de Prairie gets you most of the way for less.

  • La Marca Prosecco Rosé

    about $16

    Glera and Pinot Noir

    Pink bubbles for brunch or a birthday. Strawberry-fruity with a whisper of sweetness.

  • Sutter Home White Zinfandel

    about $6

    ZinfandelIt's fine

    The sweet, candy-pink original. Not for dry-wine fans, but a cheerful pick if you like it sweet.

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Last checked 2026-10-04.